MOBILE
COMPUTING
Mobile Computing is a technology that allows transmission of data, voice and video via a computer or any other wireless enabled device without having to be connected to a fixed physical link. Mobile Computing is a technology that allows transmission of data, voice and video via a computer or any other wireless enabled device without having to be connected to a fixed physical link. The main concept involves:
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Mobile communication
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Mobile hardware
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Mobile software
Mobile communication
The mobile communication in this case, refers to the
infrastructure put in place to ensure that seamless and reliable communication
goes on. These would include devices such as Protocols, Services, Bandwidth,
and Portals necessary to facilitate and support of the stated services. The
data format is also defined at this stage. This ensures that there is no
collision with other existing systems which offer the same service.
Since the media is unguided/unbounded, the overlaying
infrastructure is more of radio wave oriented. That is, the signals are carried
over the air to intended devices that are capable of receiving and sending
similar kinds of signals.
Mobile hardware
Mobile hardware includes mobile devices or device components that
receive or access the service of mobility. They would range from Portable
laptops, Smartphones, Tablet Pc's, Personal Digital Assistants.
These devices will have receptor medium that are capable of
sensing and receiving signals. These devices are configured to operate in full-
duplex, whereby they are capable of sending and receiving signals at the same
time. They don't have to wait until one device has finished communicating for
the other device to initiate communications.Above mentioned devices use an
existing and established network to operate on. In most cases, it would be a
wireless network.
Mobile software
Mobile software is the actual program that run on the mobile
hardware. It deals with the characteristics and requirements of mobile
applications. This is the engine of that mobile device. In other terms, it is
the operating system of that appliance. It's the essential component that makes
the mobile device operate.Since portability is the main factor, this type of
computing ensures that users are not tied or pinned to a
single physical location, but are able to operate from anywhere. It will
incorporate all aspects of wireless communications.
MOBILE COMPUTING ADVANTAGES
Mobile computing has
changed the complete landscape of human being life. Following are the clear
advantages of Mobile Computing −
Location
flexibility
This has enabled user to
work from anywhere as long as there is a connection established. A user can
work without being in a fixed position. Their mobility ensures that they are
able to carry out numerous tasks at the same time perform their stated jobs.
Saves Time
The time consumed or wasted
by travelling from different locations or to the office and back, have been
slashed. One can now access all the important documents and files over a secure
channel or portal and work as if they were on their computer. It has enhanced
telecommuting in many companies. This also reduces unnecessary expenses that
might be incurred.
Enhanced
Productivity
Productive nature has been
boosted by the fact that a worker can simply work efficiently and effectively
from which ever location they see comfortable and suitable. Users are able to
work with comfortable environments.
Ease of research
Research has been made
easier, since users will go to the field and search for facts and feed them
back to the system. It has also made it easier for field officer and
researchers to collect and feed data from wherever they without making
unnecessary trip to and from the office to the field.
Entertainment
Video and audio recordings
can now be streamed on the go using mobile computing. It's easy to access a
wide variety of movies, educational and informative material. With the
improvement and availability of high speed data connections at considerable
costs, one is able to get all the entertainment they want as they browser the
internet for streamed data. One can be able to watch news, movies, and
documentaries among other entertainment offers over the internet. This was not
such before mobile computing dawned on the computing world.
Streamlining of
Business Processes
Business processes are now
easily available through secured connections. Basing on the factor of security,
adequate measures have been put in place to ensure authentication and
authorization of the user accessing those services.
Some business functions can
be run over secure links and also the sharing of information between business
partners. Also it's worth noting that lengthy travelling has been reduced,
since there is the use of voice and video conferencing.
Meetings, seminars and
other informative services can be conducted using the video and voice
conferencing. This cuts down on travel time and expenditure.
MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES
Many types of mobile computers have been introduced since
the 1990s including the: personal digital
assistant/enterprise digital assistant, smart phone, tablet
computer, ultra-mobile PC, and wearable computer.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
A personal digital assistant (PDA), also known as a palmtop
computer, or personal data assistant is
a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. PDAs are
largely considered obsolete with the widespread adoption of smart phones. Commonly
current PDAs are able to connect to the Internet. A PDA has all requirements of
connecting to internet such as :an electronic visual display, enabling it to
include a web browser, audio capabilities enabling use as a portable media
player. Most PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via wireless
methods like Wi-Fi or Wireless Wide Area Networks. Most PDAs uses touchscreen
technology.
In 1984 Psion released the first "PDA", Organizer
II. In 1991 followed by Psion's Series 3, which began to resemble the more
familiar PDA style. It also had a full keyboard
The term PDA was first used on January 7, 1992 by Apple
Computer CEO John Sculley.
Smartphone
A smartphone is a mobile phone built on a mobile operating
system, with more advanced computing capability and connectivity than a feature
phone.The first smartphones was a combination of a personal digital assistant
(PDA) and a mobile phone functionally. Some functions were added in later
models like portable media players, low-end compact digital cameras, pocket
video cameras, and GPS navigation units to form one multi-use device,
high-resolution touchscreens and web browsers for displaying standard web sites
and mobile-optimized pages. Also, Wi-Fi provided high-speed data access and
mobile
broadband. The most usual mobile operating systems (OS) used
by modern smartphones include Google's Android, Apple's iOS,Nokia's Symbian,
RIM's BlackBerry OS, Samsung's Bada, and Microsoft's Windows Phone. Such
operating systems are able to adjust with many different phone models. Also,
typically each device can have multiple OS installed over its lifetime.
Tablet computer
Tablet computers are larger than a mobile phone or personal
digital assistant. They are a type of mobile devices integrated into a flat
touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen. No physical
keyboard is placed in them. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard, a
passive stylus pen, or a digital pen .Normally, tablet does not have an
integrated keyboard but they can be connected to a wireless or a USB keyboard,
while notebook computers have an integrated keyboard that can be hidden by a
slide joint. Early examples of the tablet concept originated in the 19th and
20th centuries mainly as prototypes and concept ideas.The first commercial
portable electronic devices based on the concept appeared at the end of the
20th century.
Apple released the iPad with operating system and touch screen
technology in 2010 and became the first successful mobile computer tablet to
achieve worldwide commercial purposes. This has sparked a new market for tablet
computers and after this success many other manufacturers have produced
versions of their own including Samsung, HTC, Motorola, RIM, Sony, Amazon, HP,
Microsoft, Archos, etc. Between competing tablets, the main concentration in
using OS was on iOS (Apple), Android (Google), Windows (Microsoft) and QNX
(RIM) among producers.
In 2012 31% of USA Internet users were reported to have a
tablet, which was used mainly for consuming published
content such as video and news .
Typical functions of tablet computers in 2012 are:
- Wireless mobile browser functions (using 2G,3G,4G or WiFi)
- E-mail and social media devices (typically with integration apps to bring all feeds into the same view)
- Potential cell phone functions (Messaging, video calling, speakerphone or headset cellphone uses)
- GPS satellite navigation
- Stills and video camera functions, photo and video viewing and editing
- E-book reading (including electronic versions of periodicals)
- Downloadable apps (games, education, utilities)
- Portable media player function
- Weigh around one or two pounds (0.5 - 1 kilogram)
- Battery life of three to twelve hours depending on usage pattern.
Ultra-Mobile PC
An ultra-mobile PC (ultra-mobile personal computer or UMPC) is a
small form factor version of a pen computer,a class of laptop whose
specifications were launched by Microsoft and Intel in spring 2006. Sony with
its Vaio Useries had manufactured the first attempt in this direction in 2004,
which was however only sold in Asia. UMPCs aresmaller than subnotebooks
operated like tablet PCs, with a TFT display measuring (diagonally) about 12.7
to 17.8 cm,and a touchscreen or a stylus. There is no distinct boundary between
subnotebooks and ultra-mobile PCs.
The first-generation UMPCs were just simple PCs with Linux
or an adapted version of Microsoft's tablet PC operating system. With the
announcement of the UMPC, Microsoft dropped the licensing requirement that
tablet PCs must support proximity sensing of the stylus, which Microsoft termed
"hovering".
Second-generation UMPCs use less electricity and can
therefore be used longer (up to five hours) and also support Windows Vista.
Originally codenamed Project Origami, the project was
launched in 2006 as collaboration between Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, and a few
others. Despite prediction of the demise of UMPC device category according to
CNET the UMPC category appears to
continue to be in existence, however, it has largely been supplanted by tablet
computers
as evidenced by the
introduction of Apple iPad, Google Android, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and Nokia's
upcoming MeeGo.
Wearable computers
Wearable computers, also known as body-borne computers are
miniature electronic devices that are worn by the bearerunder, with or on top
of clothing . This class of wearable technology has been developed for general
or special purpose information technologies and media development. Wearable
computers are especially useful for applications that require more complex
computational support than just hardware coded logics.
One of the main features of a wearable computer is
consistency. There is a constant interaction between the computer and user,
i.e. there is no need to turn the device on or off. Another feature is the
ability to multi-task. It is not necessaryto stop what you are doing to use the
device; it is augmented into all other actions. These devices can be
incorporated by the user to act like a prosthetic. It can therefore be an
extension of the user’s mind and/or body.
Many issues are common to the wearable as with mobile
computing, ambient intelligence and ubiquitous computing research communities,
including power management and heat dissipation, software architectures,
wireless and personal area networks.