Portable communication devices are defined as devices that are easy to carry and allow users to communicate with others and access information remotely. Some common portable communication devices mentioned in the document include personal digital assistants (PDAs) that allow scheduling, contacts, and internet access; smartphones that enable calls, messaging, and media sharing; GPS for location tracking; satellite navigation for directions; portable DVD players and media players for entertainment; and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity between devices. The document discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each device type.

1. Define communication portable devices.
Devices that are used for communication with us and with other devices
which are also easy to carry around on one’s person.
Portable communication devices usage
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Personal organizer, Internet browsing,
scheduling appointments, Telephone calls,
recording addresses and phone calls.
Smart phones
Phone calls, Sending and receiving messages,
internet access, send and receive files and
images.
Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Allows you to know your position anywhere on
Earth, the distance travelled and speed.
Satellite Navigation system
Determining a vehicle's location via sensors or
maps and providing suggested directions to
the vehicle via text or speech.
Portable DVD players
Used in cars for passengers to watch movies/
videos while on along journey.
Portable media players
Downloading music and radio/ television
programs, Downloading data from the internet
and Transferring data from a computer to
another.
Bluetooth
Communication between a mobile phone and
headset, connecting wirelessly to a printer,
mouse and keyboards, transferring data
between devices and connecting game
consoles to their wireless controllers.

2. Portable communication
devices
Advantages Disadvantages
Personal Digital Assistant
(PDA)
-Can be used remote from
the place of work.
-Easier to carry than
laptops.
-Difficult to enter much
text.
-They are about as
expensive as laptops.
Mobile phones
-can be used while
travelling (portable)
-send photographs/ videos.
-Quality of photographs/
videos can be poor.
-Can lose connection.
- Displays are small
compared to other devices.
Global Positioning System
(GPS)
-Positioning and distance
travelled can be achieved
regardless of the
surrounding land (Eg: long
trees)
-Greater accuracy for
measuring distances than
using cars or bicycles.
-Transmission of data can
be a little slow at times,
leading to slight
inaccuracies.
-Expensive devices.
Satellite Navigation
system
-Quicker to use than a
normal road map.
-They receive up-to-date
traffic conditions.
-The display is very small.
-Unsuitable roads can be
recommended.
Portable DVD players
-They are small and
compact.
-They can play music from
CDs.
-The screen is low
resolution and the quality
of viewing can be poor.
-Difficult to view (small
screen).
Portable media
players
-They are compact.
-They can hold up to 100
GB of data.
-They have very small
screens.
-earphones that come with
the player are low quality.
Bluetooth
-Can be used for variety of
applications.
-It has cheaper hardware
requirements than Wi-Fi.
-Consumes less power that
Wi-Fi.
-Data transfer rate is
slower than with Wi-Fi.
-It covers smaller
distances than Wi-Fi.