Introduction To Mobile
Computing
What is mobile computing
A technology that allows transmission of data, via a
computer, without having to be connected to a fixed
physical link.
Mobile voice communication is widely established
throughout the world and has had a very rapid increase
in the number of subscribers to the various cellular
networks over the last few years.
Why Mobile Computing
?
People are mobile
Devices are mobile
What is Mobility?
A person who moves
Between different geographical locations
Between different networks
Between different communication devices
Between different applications
A device that moves
Between different geographical locations
Between different networks
Some mobile Computing
Devices
Wireless Networks
Advancement in Mobile Computing
More computing power in smaller devices
Flat, lightweight displays with low power consumption
New user interfaces due to small dimensions
More bandwidth (per second? per space?)
Multiple wireless techniques
Technology in the background
Device location awareness: computers adapt to their environment
User location awareness: computers recognize the location of the
Computers evolve
Small, cheap, portable, replaceable
Integration or disintegration?
Types of Networks
Fixed and wired: The devices use fixed networks. This configuration
describes the typical desktop computer in an office.
Mobile and wired: Many of todays laptops fall into this category, users
carry the laptop from one place to the next, and reconnecting to the
companys network via the telephone network and a modem.
Fixed and wireless: This mode is used for installing networks, in
historical buildings to avoid damage by installing wires, or at buying or
selling of goods and services shows to ensure fast network setup.
Types of Networks (contd)
Mobile and wireless: No cable restricts the user, who can roam
between different wireless networks. Todays most successful example
for this category is GSM with more than 800 million users
Mobile and Wireless Devices
Sensor:
A very simple wireless device is represented by a sensor transmitting
state information.
Embedded controllers:
Many appliances already contain a simple or sometimes more
complex controller
Pager:
pager can only display short text messages,
has a tiny display, and cannot send any messages. Pagers can even
be integrated into watches.
Mobile and Wireless Devices (contd)
Mobile phones:
The traditional mobile phone only had a simple black and white text
display and could send/receive voice or short messages.
Today, mobile phones migrate more and more toward PDAs. Mobile
phones with full color graphic display, touch screen, and Internet
browser are easily available.
Personal digital assistant:
PDAs typically accompany a user and offer simple versions of office
software
The typical input device is a pen, with built-in character recognition
translating handwriting into characters.
Mobile and Wireless Devices (contd)
Pocket computer:
pocket computers offering tiny keyboards, color displays, and simple
versions of programs found on desktop computers
Notebook/laptop:
Finally, laptops offer more or less the same performance
As standard desktop computers; they use the same software the
only technical difference being size, weight, and the ability to run on
a battery. If operated mainly via a sensitive display
