As hardware vendors continue to cram more computing power into smaller packages, design and construction firms are beginning to realize tangible benefits. Once novelties, handheld devices are becoming more common at jobsites and in briefcases of industry executives on the go.
Mobile devices are making inroads in such areas as design, data collection, project management and inspection, offering new avenues to capture information digitally and communicate ideas in real time. But how far the devices can reach into industry niches might depend on how computer manufacturers address such limitations as screen displays, environmental durability and connectivity.