Glossary P - T

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant. A personal organiser aloowing you to store information and use computer-style programs. Some PDAs combine with phone functionality.

Personal information manager (PIM)

A program for organising contacts, appointments, tasks, and notes.

Podcast

Podcasting is a method of publishing sound files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription usually at no cost.

Push email

A device, which collects and sends email to your device automatically, rather than requesting the message.

Random access memory (RAM)

The segment of a handheld's memory that stores data and applications. In some handhelds, all data in RAM is lost when the battery power drains.

SD card

Secure Digital Card is a solid-state removable memory card which is used with digital cameras and handheld devices.

Smartphone

A mobile phone with PDA functionality.

Stylus

A penlike device for navigation and data input. Most handhelds have a slot for storing a stylus.

Symbian

Symbian operating system (formerly Psion) for PDAs and mobile phones

Synchronisation

The process of exchanging data between a handheld and PC so that changes are reflected on files stored in both computers.

TFT

 A transflective screen on a handheld device similar to LCD type but uses thin film transistor technology (TFT). Copes well with bright sunlight or poor conditions when using a handheld outdoors.

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Glossary

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Other sections

In Practice

Examples and ideas showing practical ways to use the different devices in the classroom and out and about

Choose the Right Device

What to look for when buying the devices, reviews and suggestions

FAQs for Organisations

Issues and questions that organisations experience

Technical Tips

Troubleshooting, software and hardware solutions

Making it Accessible

Ways to use the technology accessibly

The Future

The changing world of handheld devices