[806] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) technology
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Eric Celeste)
Thu Jul 23 11:55:36 1992
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 10:46:36 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Eric Celeste <efc@Athena.MIT.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I do think Newton and other Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have
a good chance of making a difference in libraries. For brief
descriptions of this technology on its way from Apple you can find
articles in MacWorld (Aug. 1992, pg. 129) and Byte (July 1992, pg.
128). At the Apple Library Users Group meeting after ALA this month,
the person showing off Newton stressed that "this is not a computer."
Newton is a palmable little machine with a screen and a stylus. Of
course, inside it IS a computer--Apple is trying hard to keep that
from being obvious though. You just write on the screen with the
stylus to communicate with the machine, and it has some very
sophisticated ways of recognizing, interpreting, and even anticipating
your instructions. This nifty little product will be available next
year at under $1000 to start. I'm not sure PACS-L is the place for
an extended Newton promo, but the technology Apple is introducing
in Newton do lead me to dream, so here is some of what might be on
its way.
One of Newton's key technologies is networking without wires. Newton
will join an AppleTalk network (the kind that connects Macs to
other Macs, PCs, and their printers) via an infrared signal. Kind
of like your remote control communicates with your TV. What would
opening your catalog to all the PDAs roaming your reading room?
Would that reduce lines at the terminals? How about having the
catalog at your fingertips even when you are in the stacks? How
about having Academic Index and your catalog available in the
stacks, plus a notepad that turns all your writing into text suitable
for your favorite word processor? I think this kind of technology
might change the way we think about library space.
What about doing reference work with a PDA... No more lugging that
big book back to the desk to jot a few notes, or scribbling on
scrap cards to carry back with you. Recording information with
Newton will make that information ready to incorporate into a report
or e-mail to a patron or colleague. Your e-mail would be in your
pocket while you are looking up the answer.
I'm sure there are dozens more ideas out there. I'm ready to call
it a night, though, so I'll spare you more from me!
...Eric Celeste
MIT Libraries
efc@mit.edu
