Palm Inc. and SRI International Bring Handheld Computing Technology into the Classroom through Grant Program

SRI International to Study the Educational Benefits of Handheld Computers

DENVER, Colo. (October 25, 2000) - Palm™, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) and SRI International®, a leading, independent technology innovator, announced today at the NSBA Technology + Learning Conference the Palm Education Pioneers Program (PEP). The Palm Education Pioneers Program will award grants of Palm handheld computers to K-12 teachers. This technology grant program will enable teachers to incorporate Palm handheld computers into their lessons and provide them to every student in their class. Students and teachers in more than 100 classrooms nationally will participate in the program.
 
"The number one goal of the U.S. Department of Education is to provide equitable access to technology-based learning tools," said Mike Lorion, vice president of education at Palm. "Tools, such as the Palm handheld computers, meet this goal by providing affordable, mobile and versatile solutions. The PEP grants are an example of Palm's commitment to help spur innovation in teaching and learning."
 
Palm selected SRI International to develop and conduct a research program to evaluate the learners' and educators' experiences, and the effectiveness of Palm handheld technology. SRI's Center for Technology in Learning was selected for its expertise in designing and evaluating the impact, appropriateness and significance of educational technology. In addition to capturing and publishing best practices, the research results are expected to assist teachers, hardware and software designers and policy makers in considering the affordability, mobility and flexibility of Palm handheld computers and their potential for the learning environment.
 
"SRI is committed to researching, understanding and integrating state-of-the-art-technology to improve teaching and learning processes and outcomes," said Roy Pea, Ph.D., director of the Center for Technology in Learning at SRI International. "The PEP program is a major step forward in this pursuit, as it focuses in taking technology that until now has been used primarily in the business environment and exploring the benefits it holds in the classroom setting."
 
Palm will provide details of the PEP research grant program to teachers at the NSBA T+L Conference at a breakfast session on Friday, October 27, at 7:30 a.m. in Room A-101/103 of the Denver Convention Center. A briefing for the news media is scheduled at 5:00 p.m. today in the T+L press room, C-110.
 
More information about PEP grants is available at palmgrants.sri.com.
 
About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers (source: IDC, December 1999). Based on the Palm OS platform, Palm's handheld solutions allow people to carry and access their most critical information with them wherever they go. Palm handhelds address the needs of individuals, enterprises and educational institutions through thousands of application solutions. The Palm OS platform is also the foundation for products from Palm's licensees and strategic partners, such as Cresenda Wireless; ePocrates, Inc.; Franklin-Covey; Handspring; IBM; Sony; Symbol Technologies; and TRG. Platform licensees also include Kyocera and Nokia. Palm went public on March 2, 2000. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol PALM. More information is available at www.palm.com.
 
About SRI International and SRI's Center for Technology in Learning
Silicon Valley-based SRI International (www.sri.com) is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded in 1946 as Stanford Research Institute, SRI has been meeting the strategic needs of global markets for more than 50 years. As part of its strategy to bring its innovative technologies to the marketplace, SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships and creates spin-off companies. SRI's Center for Technology in Learning (CTL) is world-renowned for its design, evaluation, and implementation of educational technologies. The staff, including psychologists, computer scientists, content specialists, anthropologists and educators, conducts innovative research and development for clients such as the National Science Foundation, the World Bank, the US Department of Education, LEGO, Sun Microsystems, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
 
Palm OS and HotSync are registered trademarks and Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc. or its subsidiaries. SRI International is a registered trademark. Other product names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.