Running head: MOBILE COMPUTING AND SOCIAL NETWORKS 1

Mobile Computing and Social Networks

Beverly Moseley
Strayer University
Information System Decision-Making
CIS 500
Dr. Chris Barrett
December 21, 2013
MOBILE COMPUTING AND SOCIAL NETWORKS 2

Mobile Computing and Social Networks

Mobile computing offers significant benefits for organizations that choose to integrate the
technology into their fixed organizational information system. Social networks are popular with
millions of daily users and are mostly updated and checked on mobile devices. This paper will
describe the effectiveness and efficiency mobile-based applications provide to capture data,
evaluate benefits from the customers ability to gain access on mobile applications, and examine
challenges when developing applications due to smaller screens. Methods that can be used to
decide which platform to support, providing high availability for end users to have access to IT
systems, and how to make mobile devices more secure from hacking will also be discussed.
Mobile-based Applications providing Geolocation and Customer Data
Geolocation is a term used to describe the capability to detect and record where you and
other people are located, and can be obtained from the users IP address, Mac address, RFID, Wi-
Fi connection location, or GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates ("Geolocation," 2013, p.
1.) GPS tracking devices are built in mobile devices to help track and pinpoint exact locations
and displays other points of interest. No longer is there need to go to a desktop and print out
directions to get from point A to point B, which was quite dangerous having to hold a paper
while driving. The use of the actual GPS is becoming obsolete as well because there are now
GPS apps preinstalled on smartphones with voice turn by turn navigation and no need to pay for
map updates. Most mobile devices, whether on iOS, Android, or Windows are capable of
transmitting geo-data.
There are at least eight different mobile Geolocation application types: Social network,
social shopping, moodsourcing (checking in at locations to display a mood), location-planning,
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navigation/trip tracking, freelancing (completing paid task), paperless ticketing (like concert or
airline tickets on mobile devices), and Ad hoc networking (Dash, 2010, para. 2). Web browsers
such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer have Geolocation APIs
(Application Programming Interfaces) built into them making it easier to pick up geographical
information based on what people are browsing and doing (Spencer, 2013, para. 9). Its cool that
Geolocation can help track the nearest store or cinema and tag into social media sites. Doing so
inadvertently generates information about where people are, what they are doing, and where they
are not (at home) which are goldmines for burglars. Besides the GPS, as Geolocation technology
gets better and more precise, it may become useful for more serious applications in the future.

Benefits to Gaining Access to Data via Mobile Applications
Gaining access to data via mobile applications, in some instances, help people work
faster and smarter. Applications that let consumers share and edit files, documents, spreadsheets,
and presentations, in real time, like Google Apps, are difference makers to people always on the
go. There is no longer a need to sit at a desk writing emails and storing documents when it can be
stored in a cloud and automatically synced to mobile devices ("Everything your business needs,"
2013, para. 3.) Using data on mobile applications could be for business like to access healthcare
data, using smart metering sensor devices, and checking energy usage data or personal like
putting workout routines or checking bank accounts.

Challenges Developing Applications on Small Screens
Big Differences between Desktop and Mobile Platforms
Mobile device hardware is smaller and tends to have more lower hardware resources than a PC
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Smaller screens bring about different design considerations and challenges
Touchscreen technology introduces new interaction concepts
With a mobile device, Internet connectivity is not always reliable as a hardwired broadband
connection, which means data transfer could be significantly slower
(Devlin, 2011, para. 8)
Mobile devices are, by far, the easiest way to get information but developing a mobile
application for some products may be challenging because of mobile screen sizes being small.
Consumers have to pick and choose which features are most important to include and in what
order to place them in. This is a crucial part of application making because its about ease-of-use
for customers. How easy and simple it is to navigate on an application will determine how
successful and popular that application will be.
Speed can be another issue when dealing with smaller devices. If there is too much data
processing (takes a lot to load) and clutter within the application, it can significantly slow it
down or crash a lot. If the application is slow, crashes a lot, and isnt fixed in proper time, the
consumer will lose customers to another similar application. Speed can be increased by using as
few images as possible and only including information that is vital for users (Shimpi, 2011, para.
2). An easy thing to remember is that slower download speeds equals longer loading times and
smaller and fewer files because quicker loading times.
Another challenge is usability, which should be one of the biggest priorities when
creating mobile applications. Applications on mobile devices typically do not work the same as
a webpage would on a desktop. Optimizing your mobile application is necessary depending on
the set of users consumers target (Shimpi, 2011, para. 3). Consumers have to take in
consideration if the application will need a keypad, button functions, what resolution will be
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used, or will it solely have touch screen capabilities. This process could also help set up which
platform(s) the consumer chooses to use.

Methods to Choose Platform Support
With desktop applications, there are essentially three OS platforms to choose from:
Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. There are often ways to make software written for one
platform run on others. With smart phone platforms, mobile developers must choose between
Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Palm webOS, Symbian, and Windows Mobile and all are
incompatible with the other (McAllister, 2009, para. 2). Of course the goal when making a
application is to reach out to the biggest audience. Most mobile users today are on either an
Android or iPhone with the other platforms not coming close. So then consumers start looking at
popular devices and who theyre carried on.
On the same note, if youre looking to target the business community, who would like
constant Internet access and other features on their phones, the rim blackberry platform will be
your most sensible choice (Viswanathan, n.d., para. 2). The financial aspect is something to
consider when making applications. If consumers and developers are trying to gain profit, the
understanding of each mobile platform and how income is gained is important. If the application
is a high-end, one-of-a-kind, business application, then a higher price product may work out.
But if the product is a standard, low-end, easy to use application with similar versions already on
the market (such as a calculator), consumer may want to create two versions: a free and cheap
better version.


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Pros of Cross-Platform Frameworks Cons of Cross-Platform Frameworks
Code is reusable Framework support
Easy access to plugins Cant always use all tools
Easy for Web Developers Code might not run as fast
Reduced Development Costs High-end graphics and 3-D support is limited
Easy Deployment Vendor lock-in
(Warren, 2012, para. 3)
There are two approaches that one can make when creating an application: the device-
centric approach or application-centric approach. The device-centric approach adapts the
application to the UI (user interface) model provided in the device. This approach makes it easy
for the user to understand the application but not all platforms may support the user interface
functionality. The application-centric approach implies that the application will be developed in
such a way as to have the very same look and feel across diverse platforms. Because devices are
different sizes, the application could be too small or big for certain devices affecting the end-user
experience (Viswanathan, n.d., para. 5).
Six other considerations for choosing a mobile application platform
Dont compromise on user experience
Support different development approaches
Built for performance
Enable collaboration and efficiency
Ensure proper authentication and address security concerns
Protect your investment
(Kempel, n.d., p. 1)
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Providing High Availability for Mobile Applications
Providing high availability for mobile applications is to avoid business downtime. The
idea is to keep end-users constantly connected. There is no one way to prevent downtime but
there are ways to plan for it. One of the best ways to avoid planned downtime is by using rolling
upgrades. Pay attention to your ratings and the comments left once the application is up and
running. Listening to the customers is the easiest way to fix application issues and keep
customers happy.
Conclusion
Mobile computing is an important, evolving technology that enables personnel to
communicate and interact through social media applications. Geolocation on mobile devices
changes the way that we navigate and display every day events. Applications like Google Apps,
iCloud, and even built-on applications such as email and calendar have made it extremely easy to
keep up with documents, files, and pictures. There are challenges creating applications when
deciding screen sizes and platforms but as long as theres consideration for the audience the
consumer wants to aim for, it should result in stability and continuality.
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References
Dash, R. (2010). 8 Mobile Geo-Location Application Types. Retrieved from
http://socialtimes.com/8-mobile-geo-location-application-types_b11201
Devlin, A. (2011). Building Mobile Web Apps the Right Way: Tips and Techniques. Retrieved
from http://sixrevisions.com/web-applications/building-mobile-web-apps-the-right-way-
tips-and-techniques/
Everything your business needs. (2013). Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/business/benefits.html?section=together
Geolocation. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/geolocation.html
Kempel, J. (n.d.). Top 10 considerations for choosing a mobile application platform. Retrieved
from http://www-01.ibm.com/software/solutions/soa/newsletter/june12/top_ten.html
McAllister, N. (2009). How to choose a mobile development platform. Retrieved from
http://www.infoworld.com/d/developer-world/how-choose-mobile-development-
platform-077
Shimpi, N. (2011). Top 3 Challenges of Mobile Application Development. Retrieved from
http://offshoreproductdevelopmentindia.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-3-challenges-of-
mobile-application.html
Spencer, A. (2013). Geolocation. What is it? How does it work and what does it mean? Retrieved
from http://blog.workloadinnovation.com/what-is-geolocation
Viswanathan, P. (n.d.). FAQ on Designing Multi-Platform Mobile Applications. Retrieved from
http://mobiledevices.about.com/od/mobileappbasics/a/Faq-Designing-Multi-Platform-
Mobile-Applications.htm
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Viswanathan, P. (n.d.). How to Chose the Right Mobile Platform for App Development.
Retrieved from http://mobiledevices.about.com/od/mobileappbasics/ht/How-To-Choose-
Right-Mobile-Platform-For-App-Development.htm
Warren, C. (2012). The Pros and Cons of Cross-Platform App Design. Retrieved from
http://mashable.com/2012/02/16/cross-platform-app-design-pros-cons/