Mobile Computing Basics

Mobile Computing Definitions

• Computing: Operation of computers
• Mobile: Easily moved from place to place
• Mobile Computing: Allows network connections while moving; data, voice, and video transmission via wireless devices without a fixed link

Main Concepts in Mobile Computing

Mobile Communication

• Infrastructure for reliable communication
• Includes protocols, services, bandwidth, and portals
• Media is unguided (unbounded) using radio waves

Mobile Hardware

• Includes laptops, smartphones, tablets, and PDAs
• Devices have receptor media to sense/receive signals; full-duplex operation (send/receive simultaneously)

Mobile Software

• Programs running on mobile hardware (OS and apps)
• Provides usability from anywhere; incorporates wireless communication

History of Mobile Computing

• 1970s-1980s:
  • Alan Kay envisioned the Dynabook (portable computer) at Xerox PARC
  • Osborne 1 (first consumer laptop) released with limitations
  • Kyocera Kyotronic and GriDPad (first tablet)
• 1990s:
  • Intel's mobile processor improves battery management
  • PDAs (Newton MessagePad, PalmPilot) dominate
  • IBM Simon (first smartphone)
• 2000s:
  • Microsoft introduces Pocket PC
  • Apple iPhone and Google Android launched
• 2010s:
  • Rise of iOS and Android OSs, mobile payments, and 4G networks
  • Foldable phones and AR introduced
• 2020s:
  • Expansion of 5G networks, AI-powered cameras, and sustainability efforts

Advantages & Disadvantages of Mobile Devices

Advantages

• Always with the user
• Internet access, GPS, cameras, microphones
• Free/low-cost apps

Disadvantages

• Limited battery life and processing speed
• Awkward input methods, platform diversity

Development Environments

• Android Studio: Official IDE for Android (Kotlin, Java, C++)
• Xcode: Apple's IDE for iOS and macOS
• Flutter: Cross-platform development using Dart
• React Native: JavaScript-based framework for Android/iOS apps
• Visual Studio with Xamarin: C# for cross-platform development

Top Trends in Mobile Computing

• Tailor-made experiences (personalized features)
• Globalization (apps in multiple languages/cultures)
• Narrow target audience (niche apps)
• IoT approach (mobile apps as smart device portals)
• Freemium models (free apps with optional paid features)

Mobile Systems Reviewer

Mobile System Components

• Mobile Device: Hardware (CPU, memory, storage) with lower performance than desktops
• Mobile Operating System (Mobile OS): iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, etc., plus a secondary real-time OS for radio communications
• Wireless Network: Internet access through cellular networks and Wi-Fi
• Mobile App: Programs for mobile devices (distributed through platforms like App Stores)

Key Features of Mobile Devices

• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS
• Camera, microphone, audio systems, and sensors (location, acceleration, proximity)

Wireless Networks

Cellular Networks

• Connect devices to cell sites/base stations
• Communication through base stations before accessing the internet/other devices

Wi-Fi

• Local area wireless technology (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)
• Enables cheaper LAN deployment, WPA2 encryption

Mobile Apps and Platforms

• Programs for smartphones/tablets
• Popular platforms: App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, BlackBerry App World

Optimizations in Mobile Systems

• Addressing constraints in energy, performance, networking speed, and resources (storage, CPU)
• Optimization algorithms to balance these factors

Mobile Cloud Computing

• Combines cloud computing, mobile computing, and wireless networks
• Addresses resource and computational limitations by offloading processes to the cloud
• Challenges: Latency, energy management, security, and privacy

Mobile Technology - Growth and Reach

Generational Evolution of Mobile Technology

• 1G (1981): First generation, analog communication
• 2G (GSM): Global default, enhanced by EDGE
• 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution): Increased capacity and speed

Impact of GSM and LTE

• GSM EDGE: Dominates subscriptions due to affordability
• LTE deployment: Expected to cover 60% of global population by 2018

Portability and Accessibility

• Tablets, iPads, and Smartphones enable:
  • Document updates
  • Web surfing
  • Video streaming
  • Video/voice conferencing

Mobile Market Statistics

• 96% global population had mobile subscriptions in 2013 (7 billion subscriptions)
• Smartphones comprised 50% of sales
• Subscriptions expected to reach 4.5 billion by 2018
• Mobile broadband grows faster than fixed broadband

Global Mobile Web Traffic (2019)

• Based on mobile OS share of global web requests
• Highlighting smart device demand and competition

Competition Among Smartphone OS

• Key players: Apple's iPhone OS, Google's Android, Microsoft Windows Mobile, and Blackberry OS
• Competition focused on performance and features

The Essence of Mobile Computing

• Work from anywhere (enabled by iPads, tablets, smartphones, and notebooks)
• Business applications: access to reports, forecasting, video/audio conferencing

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Computing

Advantages

• Location flexibility; multitasking and mobility
• Time savings; remote access, reduced expenses
• Enhanced productivity; work from preferred locations
• Ease of research; data collection and sharing
• Entertainment; streaming videos, education
• Streamlining business processes; secure access, collaboration

Disadvantages

• Health risks (electromagnetic radiation, eye strain, physical problems)
• Psychological impact (loneliness, self-centeredness, trust issues)
• Impact on family and social life, internet dangers
• Addiction and overdependence, real-life disconnects

Key Takeaway

• Mobile computing offers flexibility and efficiency; requires self-discipline
• Proper balance maximizes benefits, minimizes risks

JavaScript Overview and Key Concepts

Introduction - JavaScript

• Programming language for web page interactivity
• Runs directly in web browsers and on servers
• Easy to learn, powerful
• Unrelated to Java despite name similarities

Basic Features - JavaScript

• Embedded in HTML tag or external files
• JavaScript engines convert script into machine code

Capabilities and Restrictions - JavaScript

• Can: Modify content, handle interactions, communicate with servers, store data
• Cannot: Directly access user files, interact with OS at a low level, cross-origin communication without permissions

Core Syntax - JavaScript

Variables

• Declare using var, let, or const.

Data Types

• Primitive types: string, number, boolean, undefined, null
• Dynamic typing

Operators

• Arithmetic, comparisons, logical

Key Objects and Methods - JavaScript

• Strings: Single/double quotes
• Numbers: Integers, floating points, scientific notation
• Booleans: true/false
• Arrays: Collections
• Output methods: innerHTML, document.write, alert, console.log

Advanced Concepts

• Dynamic execution
• Same-origin policy
• Modules (import, export)

Summary - JavaScript

• Versatile and robust for interactive web apps
• Works with HTML and CSS to bring webpages to life; security constraints to protect users

ECMAScript (ES6)

What is ECMA?

• Industry association developing standards

Specific ECMA Standards

• ECMAScript (ECMA-262) defines JavaScript
• C# (ECMA-334), C++ (ECMA-148), JSON (ECMA-404)

Overview of JavaScript Updates

• JavaScript (JS) standardized by ECMAScript
• ECMAScript Versions:
  • ES1 (1997): Basic syntax, variables (var)
  • ES2 (1998): Editorial fixes
  • ES3 (1999): Regular expressions, error handling
  • ES4 (Abandoned): Classes, modules, strong typing
  • ES5 (2009): JSON, strict mode, array methods
  • ES6 (2015): Major update; arrow functions, classes, template literals, promises
• ES7 (2016): .includes() method, exponential operator
• ES8 (2017): Object.values, Object.entries, async/await
• ES9 (2018): Spread operator, asynchronous iteration
• ES10 (2019): Array.prototype.flat, trim methods

Key ES6 Features

• Block-scoped let/const
• Arrow functions
• Classes
• Template literals
• String/array methods
• Destructuring
• Promises/Symbols
• Sets/WeakSets, Maps/WeakMaps

UI/UX

Definition and Importance of UX

• Overall user experience with products/services; meeting needs
• Focus on user needs and value provision

Core Principles of UX Design

• Usability, simplicity/clarity, consistency, and feedback

Key Elements of the UX Design Process

• User research, personas/user stories, information architecture, wireframing/prototyping

The Role of UI in UX

• UI: Visual elements (colors, fonts, layouts)
• UX: Overall interaction, usability, and satisfaction

Visual Design

• Uses colors, typography, and layout to create intuitive, aesthetically pleasing interfaces

Interaction Design

• Designs intuitive controls (buttons, gestures) for predictable user engagement

What is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)?

• Study of human-computer interaction to improve usability; interaction effectiveness
• Usability studies and task analysis; optimizing human-computer interaction

This quiz covers essential definitions and concepts related to mobile computing, including communication infrastructure, hardware, and software. Explore the historical development of mobile computing and learn about the various devices that facilitate wireless connections.