Mobile Mobile ComputingComputingELEF 302ELEF 302

Percival A. Fernandez

Classification of mobile computing Classification of mobile computing devicesdevices Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)• The main purpose of this device was to act as an

electronic organizer or day planner that is portable, easy to use and. capable of sharing information with your with a computer systems.

• PDA was an extension of the PC, not a replacement. These systems were capable of sharing information with a computer system through a process or service known as synchronization. Where both devices will access each other to check for changes or updates in the individual devices. The use of infrared and Bluetooth connections enabled these devices to always be synchronized.

• With PDA devices, a user could; browsers the internet, listen to audio clips, watch video clips, edit and modify office documents, and many more services. They had a stylus and a touch sensitive screen for input and output purposes.

Classification of mobile computing Classification of mobile computing devicesdevices Smartphones• This kind of phone combines the features of a PDA with

that of a mobile phone or camera phone. It has a superior edge over other kinds of mobile phones.

• Smartphone have the capability to run multiple programs concurrently. These phones include high-resolution touch enabled screens, web browsers that can access and properly display standard web pages rather than just mobile-optimized sites, and high-speed data access via Wi-Fi and high speed cellular broadband.

• The most common 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, Microsoft's Windows Phone, and embedded Linux distributions such as Maemo and MeeGo. Such operating systems can be installed on many different phone models, and typically each device can receive multiple OS software updates over its lifetime.

Classification of mobile computing Classification of mobile computing devicesdevices Tablet PC and I-Pads• This mobile device is larger than a mobile phone or a

personal Digital Assistant and integrates into a touch screen and operated using touch sensitive motions on the screen. They are often controlled by a pen or touch of a finger. They are usually in slate form and are light in weight. Examples would include; Ipads, Galaxy Tabs, Blackberry Playbooks etc.

• They offer the same functionality as portable computers. They support mobile computing to a far superior way and have enormous processing horse power. User can edit and modify document files, access high speed internet, stream video and audio data, receive and send e-mails, perform lectures and presentations among very many other functions. They have excellent screen resolution and clarity.

Advantages of mobile computingAdvantages 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.

Advantages of mobile computingAdvantages of mobile computing 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.

Advantages of mobile computingAdvantages of mobile computing 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.

Characteristics of Mobile ComputingCharacteristics of Mobile Computing• Mobile Networking – improving

performance and security in TCP networks, mobile IP and ad hoc protocols

• Mobile Information Access – bandwidth-adaptive file access, control over data consistency

• Adaptive Applications – managing adaptive resources

• System-level energy saving techniques – for processor and memory

• Location Sensitivity – location sensing and location-aware behavior

Example - Mobile Information Example - Mobile Information AccessAccessConsider the following set of

simple scenarios:◦Scenario 1: A set of students enter a

class with their teacher. The problem is to mark attendance for all the students and the teacher and assign different rights to the two categories.

◦Scenario 2: Teachers have the right to initiate a class session, download data, look at student assignments et al. Students have far greater restrictions on looking at other people’s assignments.

Example - Mobile Information Example - Mobile Information AccessAccessConsider the following set of

simple scenarios:◦Scenario 3: Students in class have up

to 1 MB of download ability during the session. Unless authorized by the teacher, this cannot be changed. Teachers could have up to 1 GB of download ability for any session.

Example – Adaptive ApplicationsExample – Adaptive Applications

Consider the following example of an adaptive application

Scenario: I am working desperately at an airport to complete an assignment against time. I am downloading files from the Internet and then uploading completed files to the desired website.

Suddenly, the app at the airport gets back asking me when I need to complete.

Example – Adaptive ApplicationsExample – Adaptive Applications

Based on my response, the app suggests that I move from my gate, which is loaded with passengers to the next gate, which is free and likely to remain so for the next 2 hours.

My download and upload speeds increase dramatically. After I finish, I return to my gate.

Example – Location SensitivityExample – Location SensitivityLocation sensitivity uses apps that

depend upon the location of people or instruments

Background: Classes mode today require the instructor to sit at one place and talk. That is not what happens in a regular classroom.

Scenario: The idea is that the camera tracks me regularly, along with the background and keeps that image in focus.

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Context-Aware ApplicationsContext-Aware Applications• The idea behind context-aware

applications is two-fold:–Understand what the user is doing

now–Understand the type of distractions

that he may have• The work that a user is doing now

is his/ her primary activity

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Context-Aware ApplicationsContext-Aware Applications• The distractions a user may have are:–Snap: does not interrupt primary work, e.g.

looking at the watch–Pause: when we stop the primary activity,

handle the related activity, and then resume e.g. while driving, pull over to the side for directions–Tangent: when we pull over to the side of a

road to handle a call; could be of medium duration–Extended: when we pull over for a meal,

hence an extended activity

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Context-Aware ApplicationsContext-Aware Applications

• Many apps could qualify as context-aware–Meeting reminders, especially when the

meeting time draws near– If location-awareness is there, then the

meeting reminder would automatically remind you in time for you to reach the location of the meeting–Handle help desk queries such as “Where

is the nearest ATM?”

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Cyber-ForagingCyber-ForagingThe big problem that we often face is

that the most useful apps for a mobile are the least likely to be available◦If I am in a foreign country, an app that

handles voice recognition and automatic translation would be ideal

◦A great idea for medical databases would be to have a computer scan an Alzheimer’s patient and turn up his/ her address from a local database

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Cyber-ForagingCyber-ForagingHowever, all these apps need a lot of

hardware and software, which outstrips the requirement of a mobile

To implement cyber foraging, we need three steps◦The mobile device must locate a server◦The device must establish a trust relation◦Finally, the app must be partitioned so as

to execute efficiently on local and remote machines

Going Beyond Mobile Computing– Going Beyond Mobile Computing– InvisibilityInvisibilityThe user interface is such that there are

no unpleasant surprises thrown up.That would result in total lack of

distraction, i.e. complete invisibilityGiven the way our systems are created,

there is a lot of distraction presently.

Application: Microsoft Application: Microsoft IntellimirrorIntellimirrorHave we started using some of the tools

already discussed?Yes, let us consider Microsoft

Intellimirror◦Manages user data◦Manages user settings◦Handles software installation and

maintenanceImplemented by MS Active DirectoryAvailable in MS Server 2000 and

Windows 7

Class Exercise Class Exercise (Group)(Group) Form a group with three members (3) Mobile Application Scenarios

Vehicles Nomadic user Smart mobile phone Invisible computing Wearable computing Intelligent house or office Meeting room/conference Taxi/Police/Fire squad fleet Service worker Lonely wolf Disaster relief and Disaster alarm Games Military / Security

Create a Presentation regarding one of the above topics

Time allotted = 10 - 15 minutes

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