AlphaSmart
| Manufacturer | AlphaSmart |
|---|---|
| Type | Portable computer |
| Operating system | Palm OS 4.1.2 |
| CPU | Motorola Dragonball VZ @ 33 MHz |
| Storage | 8 MiB (Dana) or 16 MiB (Dana Wireless) internal RAM |
| Removable storage | two SD card slots |
| Display | 560x160 pixels, 4 (Dana) or 16 (Dana Wireless) shade greyscale |
| Input | full-sized keyboard Touchscreen |
| Touchpad | Entire screen |
| Connectivity |
Infrared, USB master, USB slave, Dana Wireless adds WiFi, SDIO |
| Power | 3.6V NiMH battery pack or 3 AA batteries or mains power adapter |
| Dimensions | 1.9 in × 12.4 in × 9.3 in (4.8 cm × 31.5 cm × 23.6 cm) |
| Weight | 2.0 lb (0.91 kg) |
| Predecessor | AlphaSmart 3000 |
| Successor | Neo |
The AlphaSmart was a brand of portable, battery powered, word-processing keyboards manufactured by NEO Direct, Inc. (formerly AlphaSmart, Inc. and owned by Renaissance Learning, Inc). The models were discontinued by the company in late September 2013, although it still offers support and software to existing users.
The AlphaSmart was a keyboarding device that enabled a person to work on the go, much like a laptop computer, but it was strictly for word processing, as it functioned essentially like a simple digital typewriter. The Dana (one of the last devices made by AlphaSmart, Inc.) was an exception, as this device also ran Palm OS applications. Since the AlphaSmart, Dana, and NEO were specialized for limited purposes, they were generally much cheaper than a standard laptop computer. All of these devices were meant to be plugged into an ADB, PS/2, or USB port for transferring the written text into a computer's word processing document for further editing (such as indentation and font preference) or printing if so desired.
The AlphaSmart saved every keystroke directly to the machine's RAM, which was maintained by a battery backup even when powered down. AlphaSmarts could transfer data either by a special program that communicated with the AlphaSmart or by the simpler method of transmitting the keystrokes of the written text as if it were the computer's keyboard. When not transferring text, the AlphaSmart could be used as a standard keyboard.
AlphaSmarts were very popular in schools for their affordability and durability. Elementary schools and high schools used them; and they were particularly popular among special education departments for use by students with graphomotor challenges.
The machines were also popular among journalists and writers, who found them easy to carry and appreciated the full-size keyboard and long battery life.
Intelligent Peripheral Devices, Inc. was founded in 1992 by two previous Apple Computer engineers, Ketan Kothari and Joe Barrus, with the mission to "develop and market affordable, portable personal learning solutions for the classroom" and to "deliver affordable, lightweight, rugged portable computing devices that are expandable, easy to use and manage, and provide exceptional battery life." Shortly after its founding they were joined by Ketan's brother Manish. Later, as their product line expanded, they changed the name of the company to AlphaSmart, Inc.
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Wikipedia