INTRODUCTION TO MOBILE COMPUTING
MOBILE COMPUTING
Mobile computing is the act of interacting with a
computer through the use of a mobile device.
Mobile computing has three main components
which are mobile hardware, mobile software, and
mobile communication.
EVOLUTION
 Mobile computing can be categorized into seven major
categories of focus.
 These categories are the basis for the technology that
is used today in research and design of mobile
computing.
 Each category or section is a different area that was
focused on to make mobile computing what it is today.
 These Seven categories are Portability, Miniaturization,
Connectivity, Convergence, Divergence, Apps, Digital
ecosystems.
PORTABILITY
The era of focus on Portability was about reducing
the size of hardware to enable the creation of
computers that could be physically moved around
relatively easily.
MINIATURIZATION
Miniaturization was about creating new and
significantly smaller mobile form factors that
allowed the use of personal mobile devices while
on the move.
CONNECTIVITY
Connectivity was about developing devices and
applications that allowed users to be online and
communicate via wireless data networks while on
the move.
CONVERGENCE
Convergence was about integrating emerging types of
digital mobile devices, such as Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, music players,
cameras, games, etc., into hybrid devices.
DIVERGENCE
Divergence took an opposite approach to interaction
design by promoting information appliances with
specialized functionality rather than generalized
ones.
APPLICATIONS (APPS)
The latest wave of applications (apps )is about
developing matter and substance for use and
consumption on mobile devices, and making access
to this fun or functional interactive application
content easy and enjoyable.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS (APPS)
Mobile Applications or apps are a popular feature of
mobile devices. These apps have a variety of uses
including games, media, bank account access, etc…
The application allow you to use all the hardware
features of your mobile device to achieve whatever
task you program.
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS
The emerging wave of digital ecosystems is about the
larger wholes of pervasive and interrelated
technologies that interactive mobile systems are
increasingly becoming a part of.
HARDWARE DEVICES
Wearable Computers (body-borne computers)
HARDWARE DEVICES
Hand held game console
Ultra-mobile Personal Computer
HARDWARE DEVICES
Mobile digital media player
Smart Phone
HARDWARE DEVICES
Tablet
Electronic Reader
HARDWARE FEATURES
 GPS
 Wi Fi
 Cellular
 Accelerometer
 Camera
 Sound
 Video
 Bluetooth
HARDWARE FEATURES
Accelerometer:
 Measures tilt and motion. The acceleration can be caused
gravity or movement.
 How are they used: Screen flip/orientation, game input, Nike
shoes (speed).
 How do they work? http://boingboing.net/2012/05/22/howa-phones-accelerometer-w.html
 Potential security threat
HARDWARE FEATURES
Consider how the security of your personal
information as we explore each hardware feature.
HARDWARE FEATURES
Global Positioning System Receiver:
 Receives location information from 3 of 24 Earth-orbiting
satellites.
 Combine with software to get turn-by-turn directions and
proximity information (e.g. nearest restaurant, gas station,
etc.)
 How does the system work?
http://videos.komando.com/watch/2790/kims-reports-howdoes-gps-work
HARDWARE FEATURES
Cellular Phone:
A cell phone is actually a complex radio. The cell
phone transmit to scattered cell towers. As you
move out of the range of one tower to another,
your call is handed off to the new tower with
stronger signal.
Uses: telephone calls, positioning, data transfer.
HARDWARE FEATURES
WiFi (Wireless Fidelity):
wireless local area network. Radio Frequencies
connect device to access point. Data transmitted
using protocol to/from device to AP.
Employs encryption between device and AP.
WiFi can also be used to make calls - VOIP
(Republic Wireless)
HARDWARE FEATURES
Bluetooth:
Uses radio frequencies but designed for short
distances (100 meters) within the users Personal
Area Network (PAN).
Allows connections between disparate devices.
Uses: Headphones, automotive sound systems,
powered external speakers, sensors
HARDWARE FEATURES
Camera:
Shoot still shots and video. Photos integrated with
other applications such as contacts, MMS
Image processing software included to edit raw
images.
Combine with network communications to create
video conferencing, etc.
HARDWARE FEATURES
Touch Screen:
 capacitive touch technology which is a grid of tiny,
transparent electrodes – measures directly on a layer
sandwiched between the actual LCD and a cover layer.
 Multi-touch - can register simultaneous touch points on
capacitive layer.
 Uses: menu selection, swipe and other user interactions.
HARDWARE FEATURES
 Sound Chip:
 Microphone
 Micro USB
 HD display
 Micro SD memory card
 Headphone jack
 Speaker
 LED Flash
 HDMI
MOBILE PLATFORMS
Microsoft Surface
BlackBerry
iPhone Operating System (IOS)
Android
MICROSOFT SURFACE
Two Development Options:
Develop applications on a Microsoft Surface Unit
directly.
Develop applications on a separate workstation.
Microsoft Visual Studio (IDE)
Visual C#
BLACKBERRY
Current Development Options:
QT with C/C++
JavaScript/CCS/HTML
ActionScript AIR
Java Android
IPHONE OS
Xcode programming environment.
Objective C/C++
OpenGL ES for graphics
ANDROID PROGRAMMING TOOLS
Eclipse IDE
Java with Android SDK
OpenGL Graphics
ANDROID PROGRAMMING TOOLS(CONT’D)
One popular IDE to use for android development is
Eclipse. While inside of this IDE, you will be able to
program the functionality as well as all Graphical
User Interface (GUI) that your android application
will use.