What Are Handheld Computers? || Know All About Handheld Computer Devices In Details

Handheld computer devices, also known as handhelds, are small electronic devices that can fit in the palm of your hand and can perform various functions such as computing, data storage, communication, and more. Handhelds have come a long way since their inception in the 1980s, and they continue to evolve with each passing year. In this response, we will explore the history of handhelds and provide examples of popular devices in each era.

1980s: The birth of handhelds

The first handheld computer device was introduced in 1983 by Psion, a British company. The device, called Psion Organiser, had a small monochrome LCD screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. It was mainly used for basic tasks such as scheduling, note-taking, and calculator functions. The device was popular in the business community due to its portability and ease of use.

1990s: The rise of personal digital assistants (PDAs)

The 1990s saw the rise of personal digital assistants (PDAs), which were designed to be personal organizers and digital assistants. PDAs featured touchscreens and stylus-based input, and they could perform more advanced functions such as email, web browsing, and file management. Popular devices from this era include

Palm Pilot:

The Palm Pilot, introduced in 1996, was a popular PDA that ran on the Palm OS operating system. It had a monochrome touchscreen, a stylus for input, and a variety of productivity and entertainment applications.

Apple Newton:

The Apple Newton, introduced in 1993, was a PDA that ran on the Newton OS operating system. It featured handwriting recognition and was designed to be a personal assistant, but it was ultimately not successful due to its high price and limited functionality.

2000s: The convergence of handhelds and mobile phones

In the 2000s, handhelds and mobile phones began to converge, with many devices combining the functions of both. This era saw the rise of smartphones, which were capable of running full-fledged operating systems and could perform functions such as web browsing, email, and multimedia playback. Popular devices from this era include

BlackBerry:

The BlackBerry, introduced in 2002, was a smartphone that was popular in the business community due to its advanced email capabilities and physical keyboard.

iPhone:

The iPhone, introduced in 2007, was a game-changer in the smartphone industry. It was the first smartphone to feature a multi-touch screen and a user-friendly interface, and it set the standard for modern smartphones.

2010s: The dominance of iOS and Android

The 2010s saw the dominance of two operating systems in the handheld market: iOS and Android. These operating systems were used by smartphones and tablets alike, and they offered a wide variety of apps and services. Popular devices from this era include

iPad:

The iPad, introduced in 2010, was a tablet that ran on iOS and was designed for media consumption, web browsing, and productivity tasks. It quickly became popular in the education and business markets.

Samsung Galaxy:

The Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets, introduced in 2010, ran on the Android operating system and offered a wide range of devices with varying sizes and capabilities.

2020s: The rise of foldable and dual-screen devices

The 2020s have seen the rise of foldable and dual-screen devices, which offer new ways to interact with handhelds. These devices can be folded or unfolded to offer different screen sizes and orientations, and they can be used for a wide range of tasks. Popular devices from this era include

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold: