In recent years, the number of PDAs on campus has increased. No, not public displays of affection, but Personal Digital Assistants.

The advent of improved technology has made PDAs a more common sight at colleges around the nation.

"Their popularity has increased on campus," said Mark Staub, project manager at Penn State's Computer Store, which sells several types of PDAs.

For those that own them, taking notes has changed forever.

"Although I can't use it for physics or math, they are great for lectures," Brian Amos (sophomore-computer engineering) said.

Because typing is faster than writing, it can be easier to catch more of what the professor is saying. Staub said it's simple to transfer notes from a PDA onto a computer for printing.

Yet, some students use their PDA for addresses, dates and storing homework assignments.

"PDAs are good for college," Mike Tarnoff (freshman-business) said. "Typing notes takes too long for me, but they are an easy way to keep yourself organized."

"It's too hard to write and read your notes," Sean Stefaniak (freshman-business) said.

PDAs are lightweight, usually palm-sized computers that perform simple tasks. Like other electronics, their prices have dropped while the technology has improved. While PDAs could only perform simple tasks in the early '90s at a substantial cost, now some cost as little as $95 and can be used for gaming, e-mail messaging, Internet browsing and phone calls.

"PDAs keep people up-to-date and organized," Allison Tekolste (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "I would consider purchasing one."

Although David Hall (junior-computer engineering) doesn't have a PDA, but his cell phone has PDA capabilities, including an organizer, and the ability to play media files.

"If we can do [tasks] in a few minutes less, then this technology helps us out. It's a tremendous help," Hall said.

Professors generally do not have a problem with students using this technology because it assists in the learning process.

"I don't mind when students use them. It's just another tool," said Jim Jansen, associate professor of computer science.

However, it is still possible to cheat on exams with a PDA. Most varieties have the capability of beaming an infrared signal to other PDAs.

But Tekolste explained that cheating is possible on calculators and cell phones too, so she believes PDAs are really not different.

Recently, Scantron Corporation has developed programs that disable the infrared function.

As technology becomes cheaper and more integrated into the classroom, it's likely that even more students may start using PDAs.

"People are going to be able to do more and more with such a small device, the price will go down, and usage will increase dramatically," Hall said.