You are now entering the PC Anatomy portal

A PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant, is a handheld, portable computer designed for organizing personal information and performing specific tasks. These devices typically include functions like an appointment calendar, address book, and notepad, and many early models used a stylus for input on a touchscreen. PDAs paved the way for modern smartphones, with later versions incorporating internet connectivity, email, and the ability to run third-party applications.

Key features and functions

Information management: Core functions included managing a user's address book, calendar, to-do list, and notes.

Input methods: Early models often relied on a stylus to write on a touch-sensitive screen, sometimes using a specific system like Palm's Graffiti. Later and other devices added physical keyboards or directional pads.

Connectivity: Over time, PDAs evolved to include wireless capabilities like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling them to access the internet for email and web browsing.

Expandability: Many PDAs could run third-party applications and had memory card slots, allowing users to add more functionality.