DG: Let's play with the crystal ball for a few minutes. What is your vision of handheld computing for the enterprise in five years and then ten years?

JP: We'll see totally different devices in the future. Bluetooth will be a key enabling technology. We'll see more technology in terms of better screens, better networks, whole new classes of applications. You'll see new data types such as music and video coming down the pike. So in the next five years we'll see a fundamental shift in the device strength and the beginnings of these new applications being deployed. Ten years from now we will see computers really embedded in everything we do. The assumption that the networks will be in place and the assumption that the computing power will be there will make more things possible. We not only will have devices that will work with people collectively, there will be devices that will work behind the scenes. So you'll begin to see embedded computing technologies in appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers, washing machines. You'll see a much more connected environment with a connected home, devices being connected up to networks inside connected homes, devices you interact with directly such as next generation Palm platforms, some devices you'll interact with indirectly such as going to a Web or other device to check the inventory of what's in your refrigerator.

DG: It's time to wrap up. Any closing words of wisdom you'd like to share?

JP: At this point we're looking for pervasive computing technology to move beyond the vision stage. All enterprises need to think about pervasive computing solutions as a necessity of their business, just as the Internet has become a necessity today. Those that take advantage of new devices such as Palm units in connecting their complete enterprise solutions are going to be the ones with the competitive edge that will take them to the next step.

Darwin J. Liao, MD, MPH, puts his Palm device to work at Seattle Eye M.D.s Ophthalmology Clinic and Optical Shop at http://www.eyemds.net.