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PDAs/Portable Computing

On this page:

• Guests
• For Your Files

Learn how to use portable devices to organize your life, calculate your needs, and perhaps even call your friends!

Guests

Barry Brahier

Barry Brahier

Barry Brahier is the president/CEO of Leadership In Hand, Inc. He helps state teachers and administrators implement handheld computing solutions and consults with software publishers about handheld computer user interface design issues. He is also the project coordinator of the School Technology Leadership Initiative, a three-year program designed to help address the nationwide shortage of school administrators who can effectively facilitate the implementation of technology in schools and school districts. He received a masters of education degree from the University of Minnesota and is currently a doctoral student at the University specializing in K-12 technology integration and program evaluation.

Steve Cawley

Steve Cawley

Steve Cawley has over 17 years of experience in information technology management, including telecommunications, Internet, client-server computing, and classroom technologies management and organizational planning. He has served as the University of Minnesota's associate vice president and chief information officer since May 1998, as assistant vice president for information technology since 1994, and as director of telecommunication services since 1988. He also serves on a variety of state and national organizations that support educational technology projects and policy development.

For Your Files

Barry Brahier, a consultant on handheld computing, advised that when buying a handheld device, make sure it's compatible with your desktop operating system. Macintosh users will want to go with a PALM or a SONY. Pocket PCs are only compatible with Windows or PC machines and are completely integrated with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

When using handheld devices, people worry that the machine won't be able to read their handwriting. Barry says:

"The solution for that is to not have it understand your handwriting but for you to learn its handwriting because there's a specific alphabet that these devices use. And when you first get the machine there's all kinds of software on it to teach you how to use it. So if you take the time, for most people it [takes] about half an hour. The alphabet is slightly modified from what we use normally and if you're used to doing block letters you're going to catch on really quick."