JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

DIPLOMA IN INFORMATIIOON TECHNOLOGY

DIT 0411 MOBILE COMPUTING
PRACTICE LAB 2: RESEARCH LAB
Instructions:
You will be required to prepare a presentation summarizing your learning activities

The Future of Mobile Computing

1) Consider the following mobile computing trends:
a) Computers are integrated
 Small, cheap, portable, replaceable - no more separate devices

b) Technology is in the background

 Computer are aware of their environment and adapt (“location awareness”)
 Computer recognize the location of the user and react appropriately (e.g., call forwarding, fax
forwarding, “context awareness”)

c) Advances in technology
 More computing power in smaller devices
 Flat, lightweight displays with low power consumption
 New user interfaces due to small dimensions
 New device features (GPS, accelerometer, camera, …)
 Multiple wireless interfaces: wireless LANs, wireless WANs, Bluetooth, Zigbee, cellular networks,
etc.

d) Context-aware applications and Wearable computers

 Devices sensing their physical environment and adapt their behaviour accordingly
 Major types of context inputs that have proven useful to apps:
o Location: Identify the device’s current location (with user permission) or be notified when
entering or leaving a location.
o Time: Identify the current date and time or the device itself notifies users when they’re in a
different time zone.
o Activity: React to an outside occurrence, based on sensors, relevant to the user.
o Environment: Get information from a device’s sensors, movement, speed or time zones.

Research on existing applications on play stores that incorporates any of the features above, and discuss how
one of them was developed

2)
a) Review Mobile application trends below, and select an application in the following areas, citing
appropriate examples (https://www.sam-solutions.com/blog/top-mobile-technology-trends/)
Trends
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Augmented Reality and Mobile IoT Apps Mobile Payments
Virtual Reality
Cloud-Based Mobile 5G Connectivity Wearable Technology Enhanced Mobile
Applications Impact on App Security
Development
Cross-Platform Mobile Mobile Commerce Voice Recognition Beacon Technology
Development

Application Areas
Education Agriculture Industry Business Astronomy Health
Military Entertainment Security Home Emergency services

b) Research on the primary technological challenges that are faced in developing your application(s)
c) Discuss the potential hazards of using such applications on a mobile device, when compared to using
such systems within an indoor laboratory environment.