The Palm Pilot was a personal digital assistant (PDA) developed by Palm, Inc. and first released in 1996. It featured a touchscreen interface and allowed users to manage contacts, appointments, and tasks. The device was compact and portable, making it popular among professionals who needed to organize their schedules on the go. The Palm Pilot operated on the Palm OS, which supported various applications for productivity and entertainment. Its success led to several models and innovations in mobile technology, influencing the design of later devices like smartphones and tablets. The Palm Pilot is often credited with popularizing the PDA market.