Is this the future of handhelds?

 

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Posted on 3 May 2001 at 17:36

Psion is keen to highlight some reference designs, produced by Symbian, for a new range of futuristic PDAs.

The ACE (pictured) is a small square device that has three ultra-thin screens that fan out from a central point. It is designed to have the usual PDA functions but will operate over the upcoming high-speed 3G mobile networks, allowing videoconferencing and access to the Net.

The three-screen idea is to allow users to do more than one task at once while on the move. It has an inbuilt mouse, camera and radio and uses Bluetooth to connect to a headset.

The HALO by contrast is a device that is designed to sit round the user's neck, with a mini projector displaying images on any handy surface such as a wall or even a hand. The HALO has a throat microphone that means users can voice commands straight into the device.

Although Psion has been doing very badly recently in the handheld market compared to rivals such as Palm and Handspring, it clearly isn't giving up on manufacturing new models.

These designs may be some way off from appearing in the shops, but they show off some of the work of the Symbian group, which includes Psion, Ericsson and Nokia among others.

Author: Caroline Gilmour