In this lesson's work with PDAs, prior applications will be reviewed and new features introduced. In review, every opportunity should be taken to improve the Giraffe handwriting recognition score. Further, transmission of stories and books will be used to review the beaming process and use of the cradle. The new information includes applications for drawing as well as an application for capturing web page data using a single desktop computer.
Continue to improve your abilities with Graffiti, the handwriting recognition character set. For this chapter, spend 10 minutes playing Giraffe and writing down your highest score as a challenge mark for the next time you play. If you can eventually reach a handwriting score of higher than 15 words per minute, you are a candidate for checking out a PDA to take home for a short period of time. Let your instructor know if you feel ready to taking a typing speed test with actual words and sentences using another game called FitalyLetris.
Special text readers are available for reading long stories and full length books on a PDA. Good reading requires good contrast between text and background color. Backlit black and white and color PDAs provide the best visibility. Non-back lit screens such as those being explored in these lessons provide weaker contrast and therefore more challenging reading. Each reader will need to make their own decision about the length of compositions that they would feel comfortable reading using PDAs.
If Diddlebug is not on your PDA, have someone beam it to you. Diddlebug is a drawing program useful for simple images, messages and maps. Though designed for black and white PDAs that can show shades of grey, it is harbinger of greater possibilities on high-resolution color screens. There are six command or pull-down menu areas at the top of the screen. There are four across the bottom explore each. Explore each of these. Note that on the bottom, one of the menu options is a countdown timer that has no impact on the image or drawing area.
More expensive handhelds have added additional technology for working with images. Many current models of PDAs and cell phones come with built-in digital cameras. Drawing programs can then be used to add messages, comments or alterations of the photographs.
There is also a software application that sits on desktop computers that can earmark or store web pages for later reading on handheld computers. When the cradle is used to synchronize the desktop and handheld computer, text and images that were stored on the desktop are "flipped" or transferred to the PDA. One desktop computer and its PDA cradle can be used to transfer reading material to a large number of students. Images can be transferred also, but the quality and usefulness of the image depends on the quality of the display screen. High resolution color screens are available but much more expensive than black and white display units.
Back to Ch4 PDA Tutorial Ch5 Home Updated February 4, 2004 Page author: Houghton