Quick Bits: PDAs will naturally disappear yet physicians rely on them, and more...

[Bob Russell]

Here's some more news that's getting some recent attention...

ResearchAndMarkets is jumping on the bandwagon and reporting that the PDA shipments will fall as the products "naturally evolve" into smart phones and portable media devices. (via SymbianOne)
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c14531/

PDAs and Doctors

Though more than half of U.S. physicians regularly use PDAs, most rely on their hand-helds for administrative tasks rather than accessing clinical data, according to a study by the Chicago-based American Medical Association and Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research. The study is based on a survey of 1,331 physicians conducted between August and December 2004.

Read more at http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/arti...articleid=1347

Survey shows business travelers want more technology to help with the travel routine. I say.. what better way to introduce more technology than with PDAs! http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...rs_survey.html

More from Research And Markets -- They report that nanotechnology will be big for pervasive computing because of its impact on power sources.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050325/lnf007_3.html and http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22119

If you haven't been under a rock, you probably know this, but the PSP Playstation Portable is available now in North America
http://www.pdatracker.net/archives/2...aystation.html

And finally, some very technical, but nonetheless interesting information about system design, how it's better to do system and software design together where possible, plus the following very nice tidbit about PDA device design

The differentiating factor between cell phones and PDA and similar devices is not so much in the realization of the components themselves. It’s in the organization of the system as well as the capabilities to meet customer demand on the software side. We expect the re-use of standard components will only pick up, especially when more complex projects will effectively take longer.

Hmm... So you mean standards might help produce products cheaper, better and faster? What a novel idea!

http://www.reed-electronics.com/elec.../CA512897.html