Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have certain advantages over conventional diaries and are thought of as the ‘electronic filofax’. They can be backed up, used for personal and professional organization, integrated with mobile phones for email and Internet access, image storage, logbook functions and audit. They are limited when used for desktop functions. This article attempts to highlight the current advantages and disadvantages of PDAs for use in orthodontics, and provides some guidance to those who are considering the purchase of such a device.
BarronsREvaluation of personal digital assistant software for drug interactions. Am J Hlth Syst Pharm2004; 61: 380–5.
2.
RamanB, RamanR, RamanL, BeaulieuCFRadiology on handheld devices: image display, manipulation, and PACS integration issues. Radiographics2004; 24: 299–310.
3.
KimuraE, OnozakiY, ShizuiY, OhnishiMDevelopment of nursing care support system using PDA with wireless and barcode reader. Proc AMIA Symp2003; 894.
4.
BarrettJR, StrayerSM, SchubartJRInformation needs of residents during inpatient and outpatient rotations: identifying effective personal digital assistant applications. Proc AMIA Symp2003; 784.
5.
CarrollAE, ChristakisDAPediatricians and personal digital assistants: what type are they using?Proc AMIA Symp2003; 130–4.
LuoJPortable computing in psychiatry. Can J Psychiat2004; 49: 24–30.
8.
McCaffreyTVUsing hand-held computing devices in the practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg2003; 11: 156–9.
9.
MacNeilyAE, NguanC, HadenK, GoldenbergSLImplementation of a PDA based program to quantify urology resident in-training experience. Can J Urol2003; 10: 1885–90.
10.
JahanA, GretterB, SmithMPThe anesthesiologist's guide to personal digital assistants. Reg Anesth Pain Med2002; 27: 193–6.
11.
HuizingaRBNephrology and the Internet-personal digital assistants. CANNT J Can Ass Nephrol Nurs Technician2001; 11: 52.
