Do handheld computers have a place in schools and universities? According to Palm, the answer is a resounding YES.

At this summer's National Educational Computer Conference in Atlanta, Palm presented several strategies and solutions geared toward using handhelds in education. This included a series of presentations, workshops and software demonstrations that highlighted the benefits handheld computers provide to educational communities. Additionally, Palm solution providers, including Symbol Technologies, ImagiWorks, Centrinity, eHomeroom, Sunburst Technologies and Britannica.com, demonstrated mobile Palm OS platform compatible applications that transform Palm handhelds into valuable tools for teaching and learning.

Palm's new vice president for education, Mike Lorion, presented "Handheld Technology in Teaching and Learning", which detailed some of the current and future trends in mobile educational and distance learning, while demonstrating the benefits to educators of handheld computing.

"Schools need cost-effective tools to allow educators to streamline their work and focus on teaching, at the same time offering students computing access within their overall curriculum,'' Lorion told Business Wire prior to the conference. "Handheld solutions from Palm and its developers are providing applications for educators to keep track of students' performance and supplement learning activities, in addition to supplying students with intuitive, portable and economical learning tools anytime, anywhere. These solutions are bringing students closer to an ideal 1:1 experience with technology tools throughout our school systems.''