Developments in technology hint at the creation of the single portable technological device that will meet all our needs: Examine the issue of the single device that would contain a still and video camera, a personal computer, and a cell phone. Explain why we do not have a single device to replace these discrete systems.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The all-in-one computer/communications device has to meet various competing needs: as a communication device, it has to be small, light, and easily carried and used. As a computer, it has to be large enough to see the screen with a usable keyboard for those with adult-sized fi ngers.
This dichotomy is diffi cult to resolve. The new generation of advanced cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), often described as handheld computers, such as those manufactured by Blackberry and the Palm, can operate as accomplished cell phones and data systems. The small screens present a challenge in terms of accessing
information. The small text-based keyboards are more diffi cult to use as
the keyboards such as in notebook computers. In terms of communications or graphical activities, these devices are diffi cult to use. On the other hand, notebook computers do not function well as cell phones. As more features are added to the handheld computer, the easily connected remote keyboards will probably become more commonplace and allow the
user to type on a conventional, portable keyboard. The challenge of integrating handheld computers into the corporate and educational world of managed networks remains, but as standards evolve for network access and improved security, we will probably see the advent
of the single-system handheld computer.