1 Pocket Pc O example essay topic

Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Project Overview A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small, mobile, handheld device that provides computing and information storage and retrieval capabilities [29]. There are a variety of PDA's available for use. The three most common mobile devices include: 1.1. 1 Pocket PC o "A Pocket PC is a handheld device that enables you to store and retrieve e-mail, contacts, appointments, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages with MSN Messenger, browse the Web, and more.

You can exchange, or synchronize, information with a desktop computer [70]". 1.1. 2 Palmtop o "A palmtop is a small computer that will literally fit in your palm of your hand. Compared to full-size computers, palmtops are severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions such as phone books, calendars and email. Some also have word processors.

Spreadsheets etc. Palmtop's normally do no more than provide address book and calendaring functionality [71]". 1.1. 3 Handheld o "A handheld is a small computer with a touch sensitive screen that can store large amounts of data, including contacts, addresses, phone numbers, task lists, and even email [72]". Ownership of a PDA is increasing each day.

At present, the number of PDA owners in the United States alone is 61.5 million (2003). By 2005, this number is expected to reach 830 million worldwide [73]. A PDA can be very difficult to use for new owners. However, if the difficulty to use a PDA is greater than expected, due to constraints such as a disability or impairment to the user, the device may be unusable.

Disabilities and impairments result from accidents, illness, genetic disorders or could be age related. Many people have more than one disability. For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may also have a vision or hearing impairment. When researching how a PDA may be accessible to a disabled person, all types of disability of the person must be taken into account. For the purpose of this investigation, problems into how a visually impaired person (VIP) can use a PDA will be researched. Visually impaired people (VIP's) constitute to a set of disabled people.

Two types of VIP's are: o Partially sighted people o Partial vision implies an ability to utilise some aspects of visual perception [7] o Blind People o Blindness implies a total or near total loss (profound) of ability to perceive form. This investigation is intended to allow a VIP to use a PDA as an input device as so their impairment will not hinder their performance 1.2 Aims The purpose of this investigation is to give an insight into how a PDA can be used to suit the requirements of Visually Impaired People (VIP) in achieving a suitable form of entry and receiving a suitable form of output from the device. A PDA can be customised to support the requirements of a VIP to input data to an output terminal in replace of a standard keyboard and mouse. When using a keyboard and mouse, there is also present a wireless or non-wireless connection where the data is sent through. This investigation will research into types of connectivity available from a PDA to send data and output terminals that can receive and interpret data. Thus, the aim of this investigation is to evaluate the use of a PDA as an input device which is feasible for use by a VIP and for this data to be successfully sent and interpreted by an output terminal.

1.3 Motivation Cost is an advantage when considering the use of a Pocket PC as means of data entry into an output terminal. A PDA in the form of a Pocket PC can prove to be a cost effective means of allowing VIP to communicate with output terminals. The price of a Pocket PC ranges up to a maximum of lb 529.99 (Hewlett Packard IPAQ 5450 Colour Handheld PC) [4]. Comparing this to some current input devices for some VIP such as Braille note takers range in price with a 'Pulse Data Braille Note' (lb 3795) and the 'Voice Note' (lb 1550) [5], the pocket PC provides a more affordable option as an input device. For partially sighted users, who have sufficient visual enabling them to view a keyboard, a laptop may be an alternative form of data input, but they are more expensive than Pocket PC's (lb 1000+) and are not as portable.

1.4 Outline An outline representation of the forthcoming chapters in this investigation with a brief description of each chapter is given below. The chapters conform to the software life cycle as seen in Figure 1 a. The software lifecycle for this investigation will guide software development through a series of stages which initially assist in mapping a problem domain through to its refinement into a solution [36]. Figure 1 a - Software Development Lifecycle Figure 1 a is a representation of the lifecycle for the investigation.

Software development processes cascade providing an iterative approach towards the investigation beginning with the proposal of an input method through to design, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed solution. Each stage is also distinct so the investigation can be well documented. Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 1 is the Introduction to the investigation, describing the user of the system and the need for such a proposal by stating its aims and motivation for development. Chapter 2: Background Chapter 2 describes the Background of the investigation. Types of inputs, outputs and interfacing available into a pocket pc will be reviewed and aid in creating suitable requirements of user and system. A summary of the background will be given by which a suitable proposal method of entry, output of information and interfacing will be identified.

Chapter 3: Requirements Chapter 3 describes the requirements of a user and system in this investigation. The requirements are derived from a series of techniques. Formal requirements relating to the investigation are stated. Following this will be an introduction to unified model language (UML) using use case descriptions. The chapter concludes with a description into the next chapter of the introduction. Chapter 4: Design Once the requirements of the user and system have been identified, along with a proposed method of entry, the next step is to design the system initially on a conceptual level, followed by a detailed description that focuses on the I / O of the system.

Chapter 5: Implementation Implementation involves the creation of a working prototype of the system taking into account the design outline proposal. In this chapter, an outline of the methods and algorithms will be discussed along with a description of the technical challenges of the system in terms of software development. The chapter will overview how the implementation followed the design procedure. Chapter 6: Evaluation On creation of a working prototype, a series of functional tests will be presented by the developer to test the functionality and reliability. Once satisfied with functional testing, the system will endeavour a usability walkthrough whereby the system is presented to potential users in a pro-active field study.

From here, observations are made and recorded leading to the eventual modification of the system. Chapter 7: Conclusion A final analysis of the investigation with the inclusion of achievements made as well as failures. The conclusion will give an overview of the evaluation from which recommendation and future work is described.