What is a GPS-enabled PDA?

A PDA (personal digital assistant), is a small handheld computer designed predominantly for use in business. Some PDA’s have a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite-tracking receiver built in. Others require a separate receiver that can be connected by wireless technology such as by Bluetooth, or fitted onto the PDA such as a Compact Flash Card.

Before the proliferation of satnavs and smart phones, using a GPS-enabled PDA was one of the easiest ways to trigger and play back media (graphics, audio, photos, video, animation, interactive maps etc.) at specific locations. As well as Windows programmes like Office, other software can be written or adapted for use on a PDA. I use a programme called mscape by HP Labs which developed out of exciting research into mobile technologies and how people might use location-aware media, based in Bristol.

Equipment

I use an HP ipaq 214 with SiRF STAR III Compact Flash GPS running mscape 2.6. The GPS is fast and accurate in comparison with other (built-in) models of ipaq that I’ve used.
(You can download the mscape software suite (for PC), user help, and design guidelines from HP Labs Mediascape home page.

You may need to install ActiveSync to connect the PDA to your PC. Another useful resource (aimed at school teachers) is the Create-a-Scape website.

Background

Mediascapes are usually made for putting media into location – layering interaction and content to augment the user experience. The Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol, has some interesting examples of projects and information on past mediascape events and conferences. HPLabs no longer develop mscape.

However, with many smart phones incorporating GPS, there are other options for non-specialist-programmers who want to make locative media for iphone or android (rather than just Windows Mobile), including:
Calvium
Empedia
Layar

Technique

Although I first started using GPS-enabled PDA to locate media in environments (for example Avon New Cut mediascape), and later to explore delayed playback and relocation of media (examples: Transitions; e-emerge_ a filmmaking mediascape; and Soundlines), I also use the device as a tool for collecting traces of routes, mapping and documenting walks.

Collecting traces

Make a new mediascape and use it to log your route.

See Mscape Help Guide for more information, including pages 81 (use the logger) and 174 (replay route), 176 (creating your own map). I’ve found mscape runs fine on my Mac running in Bootcamp (PC simulator mode) – it’s just a but fiddly restarting each time I want to use the photo and video software (as Mac).

I used the mscape maker to create a simple interface to mark specific locations, and sometimes reuse these to create markers on the map, or to make a new mediascape placing media back into the landscape at that point.

Drawing with GPS

To import the log after the walk, connect the PDA and copy across the log file. In mscape overlay the log trace onto a map of your choice (or a blank ‘map’).

I use a screen capture programme (MWSnap works in bootcamp) to create an image of the map trace from the mscape maker window. Then I import it to Photoshop to crop, edit and save as a transparency (gif) or jpeg file, before importing into video editing software (Final Cut) to use in an experimental film.

Traces can be combined by merging text files (I just copy and paste from one to the next) and importing this new log into mscape. Alternatively, open the different trace screengrabs in Photoshop and use layers to select and combine the parts of the images you want to keep.

Credits

Jackie Calderwood

See also: Documentation as Creative Practice; Interactive Walks