Asianometry PDAs: Ancestors of the Smartphones
Oct 12, 2025
Explore the fascinating evolution of electronic organizers and how they transitioned to PDAs. Discover the rise of programmable pocket computers and the impact of key players like Scion. Learn about the ambitious Newton project, its handwriting troubles, and the enduring legacy of the Palm Pilot. Dive deep into the competition between Palm and Microsoft, and witness the convergence that birthed smartphones. This journey highlights the tech industry’s shifts and innovations that paved the way for today’s devices.
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Calculator Makers Spawned Early PDAs
- Japanese calculator makers led early electronic organizers because they had LSI and CMOS expertise.
- Sharp and Casio quickly added clocks, schedulers, and alarms to evolve the category.
Scion’s Academic Roots And Organizer 1
- David Potter left academia to found Scion after being inspired by microprocessors at UCLA.
- Scion released the Organizer 1 in 1984 with EPROM storage and a programmable BASIC-like language.
EPROMs Enabled Practical Handheld Storage
- EPROMs let handhelds keep data without power and avoided cassettes.
- Their UV-erasure made updates awkward but enabled practical handheld storage.
