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Psion Organiser was the brand name of a range of pocket computers developed by the British company Psion in the 1980s.[1] The Organiser I (launched in 1984) and Organiser II (launched in 1986) had a characteristic hard plastic sliding cover protecting a 6×6 keypad instead of a computer keyboard, with letters arranged alphabetically.
The Organiser II competed with the Filofax[1] and can be considered the first usable electronic organizer or personal digital assistant (PDA) in that it combined an electronic diary and searchable address database in a small, portable device.
Production of consumer hand-held devices by Psion has now ceased; the company, after corporate changes, now concentrates on hardware and software for industrial and commercial data-collection applications.
On an episode of The Gadget Show, first aired 30 March 2009, the Psion was pitted against the BlackBerry for a place on the show's Hall of Fame.[2] Whilst the Psion was highly praised as a device that pioneered portable computing, host Jon Bentley ultimately gave the accolade to the BlackBerry.
As of autumn 2024 several software features and hardware devices are still being developed and are available including a JavaScript Emulator, Parallel Interface, USB Commslink, 32 kilobyte (KB) and 256 KB RAMpaks, and 512 KB FlashPak.
- ^ a b Bannister, Nicholas (27 November 1999). "Passport to prosperity". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
Today the Filofax is challenged by hand-held computers, such as the Psion Organiser and the coming generation of combined mobile phones/personal computers, with internet and email access.
- ^ "Wall of Fame: Blackberry vs Psion". The Gadget Show. United Kingdom: Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original (swf) on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
Each week on the Wall of Fame, we look at one particular area of gadgetry and choose the most iconic gadget from that category to join our Wall of Fame. ... And this week we're putting the Psion Organiser up against the ubiquitous BlackBerry.