His bestselling innovations included hand-held computer games, coinoperated arcade games and home video consoles.

But ultimately a hand-held computer might mean that the system could also be used to control glucose levels during the day.

Parking wardens can check whether a motorist has paid via their hand-held computers.

Instead, they were checked in by hosts with hand-held computers as they were led to their room.

Meanwhile, the importance of staying in touch has led to an explosion of hand-held computers and mobiles with internet access.