208KM Tutorial 1
Answers
Question 1
Discuss the evolution of wireless mobile telecommunications from first generation to
third generation systems. What were the major technological changes that defined each
generation of technological development? Explain why third generation mobile phones
(and other wireless mobile devices) are often referred to as “life style portals”. What
activities do you think may be supported by mobile devices and technologies?
Answer: Outline the history of 1G through to 3G technology. Discuss the main
characteristics of each generation. The term ‘life-style portal’ indicates that mobile
devices have become a one-stop portal to the information world. The devices are used
to host, connect and interact with user-specific information to support a person’s
lifestyle at work and at leisure.
Question 2
What is the location asset? Explain why location is such a unique asset within the
wireless world. What sorts of location products and services can be offered in the
commercial world? Discuss who would potentially use location-based products and
services. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the mobile (or “wireless”)
Internet?
Answer: Appraise figure 1.4. Make a list of users of location based products (e.g. lawyers,
real estate agents etc.). One main advantage is freedom of movement to the customer or
supplier, or agent. One disadvantage is signal and communication security and available
access to wireless networks.
Question 3
Define what is meant by “pervasive computing”. What is the significance of mobile
devices and embedded technologies within the pervasive computing domain? Provide a
list of examples of pervasive and embedded mobile technologies. What are the main
applications of pervasive computing. Search the Internet for articles on “Pervasive
Computing” and provide a summary of your current findings.
Answer: Revisit the definition above. Analyse the three aspects of pervasive computing.
Question 4
Discuss the main trends in pervasive and mobile computing. To what extent do you think
that pervasive computing is an important feature of the M-commerce domain? To what
extent does wireless-networking technology, and increasing trends in mobility and
portability of devices, encourage business organisations to look at innovative ways of
using pervasive computing?
Answer: Pervasive computing and mobility, within the business systems domain,
provides for a different way of working. In many ways the importance of M-commerce is
not merely in cutting out wired cables, but rather in the systems and process changes that
are enabled by the technology. Examples of innovation include embedding computing
into products so they are automatically recorded entering and leaving an environment,
and systems that monitor their own state and inform a central database of faults (e.g. an
elevator that informs head-office of its maintenance requirements!)
Question 5
Define what is meant by “wireless telemetry”. What advantages and disadvantages are
present in tracking and monitoring the mobile workforce? Discuss how the remote and
automated tracking of mobile workforces assists management decision making. Do you
know of any cases where people have been tracked by their mobile phone signal?
Answer: See above definition. Discuss the legal aspects of tracking the workforce and
some of the social and corporate policies that would need to be in place to prevent misuse.
Mobile devices and wireless technologies can offer relatively high levels of connectivity
within the working and social domains of the mobile professional’s life. But how do
people distinguish the personal world from the business-controlled world?
Question 6
Outline the various “levels” of socio-technical communication and discuss how wireless
mobile devices and wireless business systems have impacted on general business activity.
Does wireless technology provide a different socio-technical communications experience
compared with wired technology?
Answer: Social norms can also have significant influence on the acceptance of an
innovation. If the change is only one of degree then it is much more likely to be adopted
than one that goes against established norms of behaviour. Such norms can differ widely
even within the same social and cultural setting so for instance within a retail chain
different branches can have distinctly different norms of behaviour so that an innovative
behaviour that is acceptable and readily adopted in one will be rejected by another.