PDA stands for Personal Digital Assistant. Think of it as a computer that fits in one hand. What started off as a convenient personal organizer has sparked a flurry of applications by integrating web browsing, fax, email, camera functions, and more. PDAs allow you to work on documents, send emails, display photos, watch video clips, browse the internet, and record voice memos from anywhere.

The PDA has been on the market since the mid 1990's. Apple Computer introduced the first PDA in 1993, the Newton®. This was followed by the PalmPilot, launched by Palm in 1996. Original functions of the PDA centered around personal data- storing the user's address book, calendar, notes, and tasks in a portable, electronic gadget. Microsoft entered this promising market and introduced a PDA with Windows CE in 1997. They then released the PocketPC operating system in 2000.

Today, the two most common operating systems for the PDA are Microsoft's PocketPC (or Windows Mobile) and Palm's Palm OS. The Palm OS was developed specifically for PDA use, whereas PocketPC is an abbreviated version of Windows for a portable device. This platform provides users with a Windows experience that's similar to what they use on their desktop. Both systems have their own devoted fans (and others stuck in the middle trying to decide which better suits their needs). Manufacturers like HP, Dell, Toshiba, Casio, and Asus have developed PDAs based on PocketPC. Palm and Sony have Palm OS versions. Other operating systems include PocketLinux, RIM's Blackberry, and Psion.

Unlike the laptop, the majority of PDAs lack a keyboard, instead relying on a touch screen which responds to fingertips or a stylus. These use some type of HWR (handwriting recognition) technology. PDAs feature TFT or transflective screens, which are better suited for outdoor viewing. Display resolution varies with the higher end models today at 640 x 480-pixels. Those PDAs used for multimedia applications require higher processing power than those used mainly for personal organization.

Any number of add-ons and expansion slots are available for PDAs. There are options for CF (compact flash) and SD (secure digital) card slots. Infrared, Bluetooth, integrated WiFi, and GSM/GPRS/3G connectivity are supported. In addition, there are GPS devices, MP3 players, digital cameras, and bar code scanners.

Specialized applications have been developed by third-parties to meet particular industry needs, as organizations look to increase the productivity and efficiency of their staff and processes.

The potential for enterprise applications is without limit:

- Healthcare industry: Applications provide dosage calculations, treatment documentation, even patient history on the PDA and allow staff to record notes.
- Field service: With PDAs, field service staff can collect, store, and print any information while on call. They can pull up work orders and customer history while on location, even access promotions for cross-selling.
- Retail: Some PDAs provide integrated bar code scanners for inventory management.
- Sales: Integration with back-office CRM applications can streamline functions for field sales staff. Accessories enable you to give color presentations (via Microsoft Powerpoint) via your PDA instead of a laptop.