Clam-shell design
The design of a handheld. It opens like a clam, exposing the screen and keyboard. It folds together to close.

Cradle
A docking cradle holds your PDA. It attaches to your PC with a cable. When your palm-sized device is in its docking cradle, you can synchronize with the data on your desktop as well as recharge your batteries.

Graffiti handwriting recognition software
This is the software that comes standard on Palm Pilots. Write on the screen with the stylus pen and the software will recognize it. The letters are all uppercase (except for h) and are made with only one stroke. For example, a C or an L would be written conventionally, while an A would exclude the cross bar and an E would be formed by making a backwards 3. Once the symbols are learned, you can "type" about 30 words/minute.

Module
The name of the components that can be snapped into the Handspring Visor Springboard expansion slot. Modules can be either hardware or software.

Palm OS
Leading operating system on palm-sized devices. Runs on Palm Pilots and Handspring models.

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant. This term has become universal, and includes both handhelds and palm-sized devices.

Springboard
The expansion slot on the Handspring PDA models. Allows for add-ons to be easily snapped on for use, and removed when done.

Stylus pen
The drawing tool, shaped like a pen, that is used with a palm-sized device to input information.

Virtual keyboard
The keyboard on the screen of a palm-sized device. It is used by tapping out letters and numbers with the stylus pen.

Windows-CE OS
Operating system on the majority of handhelds and some palm-sized devices. It is a Microsoft operating system and closely resembles the Windows OS on desktop PCs.