Short for Personal Data Assistant, PDAs are usually useful to their owners, as they have a variety of functions, such as note keeping and messaging, as well as job-specific functions like controlling Beepsky and analyzing fingerprints or blood stains, sending deliveries, analyzing the atmosphere around you, scanning for disease or components, checking how much power are in the APCs around the station and causing chaos.
The PDAs message function relies on the RD's message server. If it is powerless or broken then no one will be able to send messages to each other. The message server also logs your dirty little messages so don't expect to be able to get away with using them to rally a rebellion.
Your primary use of the PDA will likely be the handy flashlight feature it comes with. Once the station descends into chaos, you won't absolutely have to go hunting around for a flashlight, as you have a weak one built right in. Just put the PDA in your hand, click it, and click “enable flashlight.” This light will also count for the stacking effect other flashlights have.
If you so desire you can eject the cartridge you have currently installed with the “eject cartridge button” at the top of the PDA's main menu interface, and use a new cartridge that you pilfered, purchased, or otherwise acquired into it. Note that anyone can check your PDA and see what cartridge you currently have installed, so use wisely, lest security catch you with things you oughtn't have.
Each crewmember assigned to a specific job has a PDA that matches their uniform scheme, and most have cartridges that benefit their job and provide additional functionality.
Messager: Allows you to send and receive messages, download a current Contact List, and send pictures to other people.
Notekeeper: Any notes you may wish to record may be stored here. Using your PDA on a piece of paper will scan its contents and write it in your notekeeper.
Atmospheric Scan: Use this to display the status of your environmental air-supply; works much like an analyzer, though details are slightly limited.
Flashlight: This low powered flashlight can be used to successfully navigate through areas without lighting, although its range is limited.
Newscaster: Allows you to read newscaster feeds, but not submit them.
Camera: Allows you to take pictures.
Assistant: Has a generic PDA without a cartridge.
Atmospheric Technician: Has a marked PDA with BreatheDeep cartridge.
Bartender: Has a marked PDA with Mixologist cartridge.
Hydroponics: Has a marked PDA with no cartridge.
Captain: Has a special PDA with CommandPak cartridge.
Chaplain: Has a marked PDA with no cartridge.
Clownpda.png Clown Honkworks 5.0 Messager » Send Virus (HONK Virus): Sends a virus to a PDA that will cause the holder to hear honking at random intervals. Also does other things? Who knows! HONK! Honk Synthetizer: Someone stole your bike horn? You still can HONK with your PDA.
Medicpda.png Chef None
Quterpda.png Cargo Technician and Quartermaster Space Parts & Space Vendors Cartridge Supply Records: Access the Supply Records. Delivery Bot Control: Allows you to remotely control your MULEbots.
Chemistpda.png Chemist ChemWhiz Cartridge Reagent Scanner: Scans things for liquids and residues, then displays said liquids and residues.
Chiefengineerpda.png Chief Engineer Power-On DELUXE Cartridge Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Power Monitor: Shows same info as the Power Monitoring Computer. (but only locally?) Halogen Counter: Measure how much someone has been exposed to radiation. Gas Scanner: Allows you to smack your PDA into gas-containers (Such as canisters) and display the contained gas's temperature, pressure, and composition.
Chiefmedicalpda.png Chief Medical Officer Med-U DELUXE Cartridge Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Set Status Display: Set a custom text, shuttle ETA timer or other icons to the Status Displays shown all over the station. Medical Records: Access the Medical Records. Medical Scanner: Turns your PDA into a health analyzer.
Detectivepda.png Detective D.E.T.E.C.T. Cartridge Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Medical Records: Access the Medical Records. Medical Scanner: Turns your PDA into a health analyzer. Security Records: Access the Security Records.
Engineerpda.png Engineer Power-ON Cartridge Power Monitor: Shows same info as the Power Monitoring Computer. (but only locally?) Halogen Counter: Measure how much someone has been exposed to radiation.
Geneticistpda.png Geneticist Med-U Cartridge Medical Records: Access the Medical Records. Medical Scanner: Turns your PDA into a health analyzer.
Hoppda.png Head of Personnel HumanResources9001 Cartridge
Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Set Status Display: Set a custom text, shuttle ETA timer or other icons to the Status Displays shown all over the station. Security Records: Access the Security Records. Supply Records: Access the Supply Records. Delivery Bot Control: Allows you to remotely control your MULEbots. Custodial Locator: Mop, Janitorial Cart and Cleanbots finder and status.
Hospda.png Head of Security R.O.B.U.S.T. DELUXE Cartridge Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Set Status Display: Set a custom text, shuttle ETA timer or other icons to the Status Displays shown all over the station. Security Records: Access the Security Records. Security Bot Access: you can remotely control Beepsky.
Janitorpda.png Janitor CustodiPRO Cartridge Custodial Locator: Mop, Janitorial Cart and Cleanbots finder and status.
Lawyerpda.png Lawyer P.R.O.V.E. Cartridge Security Records: Access the Security Records.
Librarianpda.png Librarian None
Medicalpda.png Medical Doctor Med-U Cartridge Medical Records: Access the Medical Records. Medical Scanner: Turns your PDA into a health analyzer.
Mimepda.png Mime Gestur-O 1000 Cartridge Messager » Send Virus (Silence Virus): Can send 5 viruses to others' PDAs on the message system, presumably making it silent.
Minerpda.png Miner None
Reasearchdirectorpda.png Research Director Signal Ace DELUXE Cartridge Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest. Set Status Display: Set a custom text, shuttle ETA timer or other icons to the Status Displays shown all over the station. Signaler System: Allows you to send radio signals, works much like a Remote Signaling Device. Reagent Scanner: Scans things for liquids and residues, then displays said liquids and residues. Gas Scanner: Allows you to smack your PDA into gas-containers (Such as canisters) and display the contained gas's temperature, pressure, and composition.
Roboticistpda.png Roboticist None
Sciencepda.png Scientist Signal Ace 2 Cartridge Signaler System: Allows you to send radio signals, works much like a Remote Signaling Device. Reagent Scanner: Scans things for liquids and residues, then displays said liquids and residues. Gas Scanner: Allows you to smack your PDA into gas-containers (Such as canisters) and display the contained gas's temperature, pressure, and composition.
Security SecureCart
Virologist Med-U
Warden SecureCart
| Cartridge | Functions |
|---|---|
| BreatheDeep | Gas Scanner |
| Mixologist | Drink Recipes |
| CommandPak | Crew Manifest, Set Status Display, Power Monitor, Medical Records, Medical Scanner, Security Records, Reagent Scanner, Halogen Counter |
| SignalWorks | Signaler System |
| Detomatrix | Detonate, SD Operate |
| SecureCart | Security Records, Security Bot Access |
| Med-U | Medical Records, Medical Scanner |
Detonate: Attempt to remotely detonate other people's PDAs in a weak explosion.
SD Operate: Opens/closes the blast doors on the syndicate shuttle.
Signaler System: Allows you to send radio signals on any frequency, works much like a Remote Signaling Device.
Gas Scanner: Allows you to smack your PDA into gas-containers (Such as canisters) and display the contained gas's temperature, pressure, and composition.
Drink Recipes: Contains a list of drink recipes for the new bartender.
Food Recipes: Contains a list of food recipes for the new chef.
Crew Manifest: Access the Crew Manifest.
Set Status Display: Set a custom text, shuttle ETA timer or other icons to the Status Displays shown all over the station.
Power Monitor: Shows same info as the Power Monitoring Computer. (but only locally?)
Medical Records: Access the Medical Records.
Medical Scanner: Turns your PDA into a health analyzer.
Security Records: Access the Security Records.
Security Bot Access: You can remotely control Beepsky and other security bots.
Reagent Scanner: Scans things for liquids and residues, then displays said liquids and residues.
Halogen Counter: Measure how much someone has been exposed to radiation.