History Of Handheld Devices

The late 1980s and early ’90s, saw many digital entrepreneurs exploring a new landscape in mobile computing. Several companies came out with handheld devices that could store contact information, manage calendars, communicate by e-mail, and handle documents and spreadsheets usually in communication with the user’s personal computer. These were commonly called personal digital assistants or PDAs.

These PDAs were more compact liquid crystal displays or LCDs as compared to the cathode-ray-tube screens. These PDAs had a mini keyboard or replaceable keyboard with a stylus pen and handwriting-recognition software that let the user write directly on the screen. PDAs were a haphazard attempt that had the potential to be a lot more but without a clear direction.

The potential of this kind of device was understood in 1996 when Palm Computing, Inc., released the Palm Pilot, which was about the size of a deck of playing cards. It did not attempt to replace the computer but made it possible to organize and carry information like calendars, telephone numbers and address lists, memo pads, and expense-tracking software and to synchronize that data with a PC. The device included a connector to connect to a PC and pass information back and forth. This successful attempt encouraged many software companies to develop applications for it.

In 1998 this market experienced the entry of several established consumer electronics firms to sell handheld computer devices and wireless telephones that could connect to PCs. These small devices would often possess a communications component and benefited from the sudden popularization of the Internet and the World Wide Web. In particular, the BlackBerry PDA, introduced in 2002, established itself as a favorite in the corporate world because of features that allowed employees to remain connected with their company’s databases.

In 2001 Apple introduced the iPod, a handheld device capable of storing 1,000 songs notes, and appointments. In 2003 Apple launched an online music store, iTunes Store, followed by software releases that added photographs and movies to the media the iPod could handle. While Apple and its competitors grew the market for handheld devices with these media players, mobile telephones were increasingly becoming “smartphones,” acquiring more of the functions of computers, like sending and receiving e-mails, texts, and access to the Internet.

In 2007 Apple once again shook up a market redefining the smartphone market with its iPhone. Handheld devices and computers found their link via the Internet.

By: Deeksha Goyal

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