Later this year students at Duke University will be giving iPads to enable the students to college and analyse data in the field.
In the past data gathered in the field would not be analysed until the researcher was back on a computer off site, the iPad changes all that allow on site analysis.
From TUAW:
The primary goal, according to sociologist Jen’nan Ghazal Read who will be teaching the course, is to equip students with tools allowing them to make the most of their time in the field and master the complex methods on which they will base their research.
Yes of course laptops and tablets in the past also allowed for field research, however the iPad’s ten hour battery life certainly will allow for wider use in remote locations compared to your typical laptop (and certainly your typical £500 laptop).