Introduction to Mobile Computing and Smart Devices

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Questions and Answers

Which Android version first offered video calling support through Google Talk?

Android 2.2

Android 3.0

Android 2.1

Android 2.3.4 (correct)

What kind of mobile connectivity options does Android support for telephony and data transfer?

GSM, EDGE, and 3G networks (correct)

GPRS and WLAN only

LTE and NFC only

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only

Which of the following is NOT a feature provided by the Android SDK?

IPC message passing

Comprehensive APIs for location-based services

Television support for apps (correct)

Integrated open source WebKit-based browser

What best describes the Android development philosophy?

Open philosophy encouraging component reuse Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following helps in managing access to app private data in Android applications?

Content providers Signup and view all the answers

Which multimedia capabilities are included in the Android SDK?

Full multimedia hardware control including playback and recording Signup and view all the answers

What feature allows Android applications to communicate and share data without impacting performance?

Inter-process communication Signup and view all the answers

What is true regarding the licensing of the Android SDK for developers?

No licensing, distribution, or development fees Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does Android provide for developers compared to other mobile platforms?

Allows distribution with no certification requirement Signup and view all the answers

Which connectivity technologies are supported by Android?

GSM/EDGE, LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key components of the Android SDK?

Dalvik Executables Signup and view all the answers

Which multimedia formats are supported by the Android platform?

WebM, H.263, H.264, MPEG-4 SP, and JPEG Signup and view all the answers

What is a feature of the Android Market in terms of app distribution?

It provides an open platform with no approval process for apps Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does the simple SDK provide for Android developers?

A powerful development environment with comprehensive documentation Signup and view all the answers

How does Android handle application memory and data storage?

Utilizes SQLite as a lightweight relational database Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following features supports gaming on Android devices?

Accelerated 2D bit blits and 3D graphics support Signup and view all the answers

Which type of application is specifically developed for a particular operating system?

Native applications Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of web applications compared to native applications?

They require a web browser to run. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of mobile application mentioned?

Elastic applications Signup and view all the answers

Which component is typically used for developing Android applications?

Java Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a mobile application's 'background' type?

Usually stays hidden when not in use. Signup and view all the answers

Which option is a disadvantage of developing web applications compared to native apps?

Highly dependent on internet connectivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which method allows developers to create mobile applications without certification?

Through third-party app stores. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of cloud applications over traditional desktop applications?

They combine features of both desktop and web applications. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mobile Computing Introduction

Mobile computing is a broad term encompassing various devices enabling data and information access from anywhere.
It facilitates data, voice, and video transmission over networks via mobile devices.
Key drivers include mobile computing platforms, miniaturized devices, advanced wireless communication, and global infrastructure.

Smart Devices

Smart devices are digital, active, networked, user-configurable, and often autonomous.
They exhibit properties of ubiquitous computing, including artificial intelligence.
Mark Weiser categorized ubiquitous devices into tabs (e.g., smartphones, smart cards), pads (e.g., laptops), and boards (e.g., horizontal/vertical smart boards).

Smart Devices at Home/Office

Smart devices in a home or office environment connect via various technologies: WiFi, UWB, Bluetooth, cellular.
These connections link devices such as security cameras, computers, smart phones to larger networks.

Smart Devices on the Road

Road conditions, weather, location-based services and emergency services are possible with mobile devices.
Communication networks such GSM/UMTS, CDMA or WLAN are used by vehicles.

In-Body Smart Devices

In-body devices include sensors, monitoring devices, drug delivery systems, and medical robots, neural implants.
These devices facilitate wireless medical communications supporting telemedicine.

Mobile Programming Projects (Habitat Monitoring)

Projects involve location-specific nodes for habitat monitoring, potentially incorporating wireless repeaters.
Examples include nest box monitoring nodes, ground-level nodes, fixed location nodes, and mobile robot nodes.

Smart Phone Overview

A smartphone combines the functions of mobile phones, personal digital assistants, portable media players, cameras, high-resolution touchscreens, web browsers, GPS navigation and WiFi/mobile broadband access.
Feature phones have proprietary firmware and limited platforms, while smartphones have open operating systems, tightly integrated interfaces and more powerful APIs.

Mobile Application Development

Mobile application development creates software for smartphones and digital assistants, primarily for Android and iOS.
The process encompasses building application software tailored for various functionalities and tasks.

Smartphone Statistics

Statistics on smartphone sales show Android and iOS are dominant.
The figures illustrate the growth and market share of various smartphone platforms over a period of time.

Smartphone Pros

Smartphones are typically always with the user and increasingly powerful.
They often incorporate GPS, accelerometers, and have multiple wireless connections.
They offer numerous free/low-cost applications.

Smartphone Cons

Common issues in smartphones include battery life, limited processor speed and RAM, unreliable network access, limited screens, and storage space.
Inconsistency across devices also adds overhead and costs connected with mobile data transfer.

Components of Mobile Computing

Mobile Communication: The transfer of data and information between mobile users regardless of their physical location.
Mobile Hardware: Devices and their connected elements for accessing and managing mobile services.
Mobile Software: Application software tailored for mobile devices; most commonly referred to as apps.

Introduction to Application

Applications are software fulfilling user-specific tasks.
Functionality includes reading PDF files, creating documents, gaming, playback of audio/video, and processes related to transactions.

Application Development

Application development creates programs for executing business tasks.

Application Categories (On the Basis of Architecture)

Single Tier: Stand-alone applications like MP3 players or MS Word operate on a single layer.
Two Tier: Client-server applications where the client handles user interfaces, while the server handles applications and data.
Three Tier: Applications involve a presentation layer handling client interfaces, a business layer for data processing, and a data layer for storing data.

Application Categories (On the Basis of Platforms)

Desktop applications run on personal computers.
Web applications use web servers and require browsers for running.
Mobile applications target mobile devices.
Cloud applications integrate desktop and web applications functionalities.

Application Types

Foreground applications: Active and immediately useful user interfaces (e.g., actively using an app).
Background applications: Remain hidden while running in the background (e.g., call screening application).
Intermittent applications: Active in the background or foreground (e.g., media player).
Widget applications: Display updates or information on the device home screen.

Application Categories (On the Basis of Devices)

Native applications: Designed for a particular device with specialized applications for distinct devices.
Device-agnostic applications: Applications are created for a range of devices without significant modification.

Mobile Applications (What they are)

Mobile applications are programs for small, low power devices such as digital assistants and mobile phones.
Users typically use them for checking news, weather, email or social media.

Mobile Application Development (Web Apps vs. Native Apps)

Web Apps: Develop using HTML5, JavaScript that are web style; depend on internet access.
Native Apps: Developed for specific operating systems like iOS or Android with programming languages such as Objective-C or Java.

Native Development Environments

Development environments provide the tools and technologies for creating native applications.

Xcode IDE & iPhone Emulator

Xcode IDE, a development environment, allows for creating and testing applications for iPhone including an iPhone emulator for testing software hardware and OS.

Eclipse and Android Emulator

The Eclipse platform is used to develop Android applications and provides an Android emulator for testing.

Android Operating System (OS)

Android OS is an open source, mobile operating system developed by Android Inc., acquired by Google.
Released in 2008, powered by the Linux kernel, supported by multiple partnerships.

Why Android?

The Android SDK is simple, powerful, and does not require licensing fees.
Documentation and developer support are considered reliable.
The Android Market facilitates application distribution and monetization.

Android Versions List

A list of Android versions with notable version names and associated feature sets.

Android – Features & Specifications

Features include adaptable platform, lightweight database, various connectivity options, and multiple supported languages.

Android – Multimedia Support

Android integrates various multimedia support such as video, audio, and formats like WebM, H.263, or H.264.

Android – Additional Hardware Support

Android supports hardware components such as video/still cameras, touchscreens, GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and sensors.

Android – Multi-touch Support and Bluetooth

Android offers multiple-touch capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity for data exchange or for communication between devices such as phones, keyboards, and joysticks.

Android- Video Calling Capabilities

Android provides video calling support through Google Talk and platforms like Skype.

Android – Multitasking and Voice Based Features

Android facilitates background multitasking and voice-based feature sets for specific actions like navigation, calling, or texting.

Android– Tethering

Android supports wired or wireless connections.

Android Development - Philosophy

Android is an open system that encourages reusable components.
Facilitates direct access to hardware settings.

Android – Development Features

Features include OS management of application process and handling, screen actions, background applications, and notification features, and also content providers for managing access to applications and data.

Expecting Android Development

Expect issues with processing power, memory, storage, screen size, and transfer costs in Android development.

Android Development – Core Considerations

Activities manage screens and data exchange.
The OS handles Activities and process lifecycles for applications, allowing for quick restarts of apps.

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Description

Explore the concepts of mobile computing and smart devices in this quiz. Learn about the technologies that enable data access and communication through mobile devices, as well as the role of smart devices in the home and office. Test your knowledge on the different categories of smart devices and their connections.