The AlphaSmart is a brand of so-called smart keyboards manufactured by AlphaSmart, Inc. It is a keyboarding device that enables a person to work on the go, much like a laptop computer, but is strictly for word processing only, as it functions essentially like a simple digital typewriter. The device can be plugged into a Macintosh or PC for transferring the written text into a word processing document for further editing, or printing if so desired. AlphaSmarts are very simple in how they transfer; they simply send the keystrokes of the written text to the computer like a regular keyboard; you can actually see the text being "typed" onto the monitor.
Backround
AlphaSmart, Inc. was founded in 1992 by two previous Apple Computer engineers 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." The company was previously called Intelligent Peripheral Devices, Inc.
AlphaSmarts are very popular in schools for their affordability and their incredible durability. Elementary schools through high schools alike use them, often in large quantities, and are particularly popular among the special education departments for use with students that lack the ability to write by hand.
AlphaSmart Products
AlphaSmart
The original AlphaSmart computer companion was shipped in August of 1993, and worked only with Apple Macintosh computers, plugging into the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) port on the back of the mac. This model provided customers with 16 "pages" of memory (32,000 bytes) for 8 separate files (2 pages per file), that were accessed by pressing the corresponding function key. The AlphaSmart took on the aesthetics of the computer it was intended to be partnered with; mainly that it had a boxy, durable beige plastic case like the macs were in that era. It had a four line LCD character display, similar to what you would find on many appliances for relaying simple data. The AlphaSmart could never display graphics, albeit for ASCII art. It ran on 2 AA batteries, and could be used for literally days at a time due to its clever power saving technique. There was a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery (NiCad) pack add-on that a customer could purchase if desired.
AlphaSmart Pro
- In February of 1995, the AlphaSmart Pro was debuted. This new, improved device looked almost identical to the original, but under the beige casing, many new features were to be found. First, the AlphaSmart Pro worked not only with Macintoshes, but now PCs as well, as it featured a PS/2 port in addition to the ADB port. Second, the Pro had a find feature to search your entries. Third, the AlphaSmart Pro was able to receive text from a computer through the Get Utility software installed on a Mac or PC, and could also be connected to another AlphaSmart for sharing text. Lastly, it included a password feature. The Pro model was able to store up to 64 pages of text (128,000 bytes), holding 16 pages in the first file, 8 pages in files two through five, 6 in files six & seven, and 4 pages on file number eight. The rechargeable NiCad battery could also be used in the Pro model.
AlphaSmart 2000
- In October 1997, AlphaSmart Inc. introduced the third generation of the AlphaSmart family, the AlphaSmart 2000. Along with a more ergonomic design, the AlphaSmart 2000 was smooth, curvy, and of all things... blue. New features added were spell-checking, direct printing, auto-off and a keyboarding timer. The company also released infrared capability into the 2000 model exactly one year latter, enabling users to transfer text to a computer or another AlphaSmart without a cable. This model needed 3 AA batteries, but could still use the original rechargeable NiCad battery pack if purchased.
AlphaSmart 3000
- In January 2000, the AlphaSmart 3000 was released. The 3000 used the same sleeker chassis as the AlphaSmart 2000, but it now had a translucent bondi-blue plastic, matching Apple Computer's iMac. The reason was simple, the AlphaSmart 3000 was USB native. Designers purposefully left out ADB and PS/2 ports, but now included a serial port that allowed users to plug the AlphaSmart directly into a printer. Also new was the SmartApplet architecture that was capable of extending the simple functionality of an AlphaSmart with the inclusion of SmartApplets. SmartApplets are mini software applications that extend the AlphaSmart's functionality, giving it features besides word processing. Included was an simple 5 function calculator as an example. Additionally, they increased the battery life (still used 3 AA batteries) and memory, added cut/copy/paste functions, and could no longer use the original rechargeable NiCad battery pack. Instead, it used a new optional nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH) pack that lasted longer, and eliminated the so called "memory effect" of NiCad batteries. The AlphaSmart 3000 had the customary 8 files, each having a capacity of 12.5 pages (about 25 kilobytes), for a total of 100 pages altogether.
AlphaSmart Neo
- The new Neo model, debuted in August 2004, can save up to 300 pages worth of text at a time. It has a new, larger (50%), dynamic LCD. This display does not have fixed "blocks" for each character, and therefore can display different fonts and point sizes. It uses a brand new chassis patterned off of the Dana, another AlphaSmart product. It uses the same optional NiMH battery pack as the AlphaSmart 3000.
Dana
In June 2002, a radical departure from the standard AlphaSmart line was released. The Dana, as it is called, is a almost a true alternative to an expensive laptop computer. The Dana is actually a fully fledged Palm OS device, complete with a touch screen, being able to write directly on the screen via Graffiti in addition to typing on the keyboard. Also new, the Dana's screen has a backlight for low light working. It has 16 Megabytes of storage, and like most palm devices, it has a Secure Digital slot (SD), but it also sports a Multi Media Card (MMC) slot too. It is compatible with nearly every Palm OS application, and some Palm apps can take advantage of Dana's extra wide screen, which is 3.5 times the norm (560 x 160 pixels). The Dana optionaly comes with Wi-Fi connectivity for internet use and interaction between other Danas, and it runs off a new rechargeable lithium ion battery (Li-ion) pack or 3 AA batteries.