Personal access display devices are among the most common tools in the Federation and other societies; nearly every inhabitant of an advanced planet owns at least one PADD. In essence, a PADD is an extremely powerful hand computer capable of holding several billion pages of text and pictures in two isolinear optical chips. They consist of a high-resolution touch-sensitive screen as well as several multifunction touch pads. They also contain a subspace transceiver equal in power to a combadge; a PADD can communicate with other devices up to 40,000 km away.
Civilians use PADDs to keep track of appointments, communicate with various planetary computer networks, and even play games for personal amusement. On space stations, PADDs are used to send and receive reports and to access the station's central computer. A user can configure a PADD to assume the functions of any control panel or workstation, limited in utility only by its small, portable size.
Authorized users can also employ PADDs to access certain functions aboard starships and space stations. Command staff members know security override codes, allowing them to control many systems from remote locations while using a PADD. While they're too slow and clumsy for use in combat or a similar crisis situation, theoretically one person could administrate an entire space station or starship using a standard-issue PADD.
Cardassian PADDs appear smaller than the Federation version, but exhibit more rugged construction. As hybrids of Cardassian and other technologies, they demonstrate many innovations borrowed from other civilizations.
Ferengi PADDs are longer and narrower than Starfleet PADDs. Optimized for financial calculations, tracking inventory, and similar functions, they maintain records of the previous 358,700 transactions.
Klingon PADDs reveal greater functional limitations than most other PADDs, but also prove more durable and rugged.
Mass: 0.2 kg
Duration: 100 hours (Starfleet); 37.5 hours (Cardassian); 50 hours (Ferengi); 47.5 hours (Klingon), plus induction charging for each.