What are PDAs and how do they
work?
PDAs (often called "Palms", although Palm is just
one of the brands available) are small electronic devices that capture, organize
and manage data. As the name suggests, they are small enough to fit on your
palm. You input data using a special blunt-ended stick called a stylus (or, for
the less organized among us, your fingernail!) to write on the screen.
Alternatively, the truly Palm-devoted can buy full-size keyboards that fold down
to the size of the PDA itself, making them easy to transport. Best of all, a PDA
can communicate with your desktop computer, allowing you to easily and quickly
transfer data from the computer to the PDA and vice-versa.
How much does it cost? What kinds of
software are available? Is it expensive?
Here is the good news about PDAs: the price tags
are considerably lower than what you would expect to pay for a notebook or even
a desktop computer, and you can manage to do most of the tasks you use your
computer for now. The most basic models (2MB of memory, monochrome display) are
currently retailing for under US$100. For an interpreter wanting to load several
language-related software applications (called "apps" by the Palm-savvy), 8 or
16 MB of memory is probably a better choice to allow lots of room for storage;
devices offering this capacity start around US$150 for a monochrome model. If
you want color display, optional built-in MP3 player and other bells and
whistles, prepare to get out the checkbook: models offering these features are
usually in the US$300-$500 range, with newer and more tempting models coming
onto the market constantly. You're probably best advised to browse your local
electronics shop, then check on-line prices. It's a toss-up these days which
will end up cheaper.
As for software — oops, "apps" — the sky
is the limit here. The best-known source for PDA software is probably
www.palmgear.com, which offers the user the chance to browse and
download literally tens of thousands of titles. And more good news for the
penny-pinchers among us: Palm OS apps typically sell for between US$9.95 and
$19.95 each, and are written by individuals or small companies which often give
great, personal support. A surprising number of useful apps are even available
free. You can expect to pay more for apps developed by larger companies
(typically US$24.99 to US$69.99) but these apps are usually more sophisticated
and offer capabilities that are practically indispensable for those of us who
want to kiss our desktop computers goodbye (ability to read/edit Word, Excel and
PowerPoint documents, capacity for storing large data files on memory cards or
sticks, etc.). Most PDAs run the Palm OS (operating system), and there is far
more software available for this system. If this is a consideration, you might
want to avoid models offering the "Pocket PC" OS.
PDA or computer?
PDAs have their good points, but at the end of the
day they ARE tiny, and the way their operating system is configured means that
they have some inherent limitations that a full-fledged computer doesn't. Let's
take a PDA and a flashy compact sub-notebook into the booth and take a test
drive...
On space considerations, the PDA wins hands down.
Even if it has a full-size keyboard attached, it takes up less than half the
footprint of the typical computer (even a sub-notebook). No need to look for a
spare power outlet, either; a monochrome PDA can be used continuously for over 8
hours without running out of battery power, and the newer models mostly feature
rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The PDA also beats the computer on boot-up
time; it springs to life instantly when the power button is pushed, and it
returns to the same point you were at in the app you were last using, which can
be a real time-saver. Last but not least, when you are not using it, the PDA
will shut itself off automatically to save its battery (again, not losing your
data or your place).
In low-light situations, however, a PDA may need
some adjusting. Your manual will explain how to adjust its backlight (try to buy
a model with this capability just in case) to optimize the display for your
working conditions. And be sure to turn off any alarms you might have set —
don't want those going off during the conference!
Okay, you're sailing along nicely, coffee break is
past, and you suddenly feel the need to consult a glossary. If you're a computer
user, you can pull up your glossary on a spreadsheet, word processing, or
database program, and you've probably got a 30GB hard drive full of treasures
from the last ten years. You may also have a good-quality bilingual CD-ROM
dictionary available, which is something the PDA can't compete with (yet!). On
the PDA, you'll have to pack a little bit lighter, but it's possible to carry
just about everything you could want, especially if you've bought a memory card
or memory stick.
A typical PDA with 16MB of memory, for example,
could easily hold a "Word-substitute" program that allows viewing and editing of
Word documents; an "Excel-substitute" that lets you work with Excel docs; a
PowerPoint viewer; a bilingual dictionary (although quality varies, and you're
more likely to find useful ones in the more commonly used languages); and a
database program which you can easily stuff full of your own glossary entries.
In fact, you can convert those Excel spreadsheets full of terms to feed them
quickly and efficiently into your PDA. And one advantage the PDA has is that
operation is very intuitive. The tap of a button easily re-sorts your glossary
on any field you'd like, and filtering via pull-down selection boxes allows you
to limit what you're looking at for ease of handling.
Of course, your PDA will also store the contact
details for people you meet who are eager to use your services in the future,
and will even instantly "beam" your personal business card to other PDA-enabled
folks via its infrared port at the tap of a single button (and absolutely no
technical know-how required).
On a plane or train, the PDA and the laptop are
neck and neck. Both can be loaded with Word, Excel, .pdf, and PowerPoint docs
for study and preparation. Some high-end PDA models also function as cell
phones, and most PDAs can link up to the Internet to allow e-mail and Internet
browsing (separate wireless or other access service is required).
What applications are particularly useful
for interpreters?
You'll probably make good use of the
built-in apps (Address Book, telephone list, ToDo list, Calendar, Expense and
Calculator) that come with every PDA. Beyond that, you can also load your family
photos in .jpg format, add a world clock and currency converter to keep track of
what time zone you're in and how much you are making, and add a few games for
those moments you don't feel like working. You will probably want to download
Internet pages for later reading using a free app like Avantgo, which gives you access to hundreds of “channels” of
content, like the Economist and many major international news services, and
updates automatically whenever you “synch”. There are also niche apps for every
conceivable use: recipes, drawing programs, where'd-I-park-my-car apps, doggie
veterinary record trackers...but let's focus for a moment on a few apps that are
either written for interpreters or that can be used to great advantage by the
PDA-equipped interpreter.
Office Suite: If you're serious about
PDA-ing, you'll probably buy one of these sooner or later. I personally like WordSmith, which allows you to load and edit Word documents,
and update the versions on your desktop computer with your changes. For Excel, I
like TinySheet which does the same for Excel
spreadsheets. One full suite that handles Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files and
comes bundled with some PDAs is Documents to
Go.
Terminology management: If you choose to use
a dedicated database for your glossaries (or to convert from Excel or
comma-delimited files), one of the best-kept secrets is a little program called
SuperMemo. Selling for just US$16, this program is intended
primarily as a flashcard program, but features almost infinitely expandable
databases that can be fully customized, categorized, sorted, and searched. A
powerful flashcard algorithm makes this a great way to memorize terms, too. You
can quickly switch the order in which your columns are displayed and search for
any term you need.
Dictionaries (bilingual or monolingual):
There are a variety of these on the market, but quality varies. Be sure to check
out the content before you buy. Sites like www.handango.com or www.palmgear.com will offer a variety of these; search for
keywords like "dictionary your-language" and you'll be sure to find
plenty.
Language-specific OS or localized version of the
Palm OS: The native Palm OS supports accented characters well (covering Spanish,
French, and most other Western European languages), but the Palm OS has been
basically an English system since its inception. Recently, localized versions of
the OS with built-in foreign language input have appeared on the market. It's
also easy to buy third-party apps that will translate the Palm OS menus into the
desired language, and afford you the capability of inputting text in other
languages. If you work in Russian, Turkish, Chinese or another "technically
interesting" language, for example, it will probably be easier to buy an add-on
to allow your PDA to speak your language. Most of these add-ons retail for
between US$15.99 - US$29.99, and are remarkably stable. Installing one will
allow you to use the language in question in all your apps, although you may
experience some troubles trying to get a double-byte language to coexist
peacefully with accented European characters. This doesn't cause any crashes,
though, just some random double-byte characters on the screen. It is necessary
to turn off your Chinese system, for example, if you want to read a nice clean
page of Spanish with proper accents; luckily, doing so requires only a few taps
of your stylus.
Need to print? You can buy a third-party
program to enable printing on your PDA. Again, www.palmgear.com has
a selection, or you can find reviews of different apps on the Net. This kind of
app is only necessary if you want to print directly from your PDA to a printer,
though, because you can "get around" this requirement in most cases by synching
your PDA (updating the data on both your computer and the PDA) and then opening
the document or data you want to print on your computer and printing
normally.
Specialized interpreter apps: as an aspiring
interpreter and Palm OS developer, I've been trying to develop a number of apps
useful for interpreters. To date, I've completed "CI Notes" (for those moments
you just don't have a notebook, napkin, or scrap paper on hand — take
consecutive notes right on your PDA). I am working on "InterpreTrainer" (an app
to help interpreting students track their practice, materials used, difficulties
encountered, strategies applied, free reading/listening results, and so forth),
and on an app for interpreters who want to organize their
records to prepare for applying for AIIC
membership by tracking days worked, language combinations, possible
signatures and signatures obtained. Of course, if you have a great idea for a
Palm OS app that would help you do your job, I'd be glad to try to develop it
with you.
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