Experiment No 10 STUDY OF VARIOUS MOBILE INFORMATION DEVICES

Before the invention and widespread adoption of small electronics, people used computers and
machines that were tethered to the physical infrastructure. Radios, televisions, and computers needed
to be connected to a power source for electricity. They also needed cords to connect them to content
and programming. As technology developed, improvements were made that allowed storage of
electricity and information. As batteries and storage drives became smaller and less expensive, the
development of mobile devices flourished. Modern society is intertwined with mobile devices for
communication, entertainment, and access to information. Mobile device definition: a portable
handheld computer, small enough to be carried easily, which can function without being physically
connected to a network and power source.

Characteristics of Mobile Devices

There is a great variety of mobile devices. Phones, tablets, e-readers, and other mobile devices share
some common characteristics, including:

1. Small enough to be carried easily

2. Operates without a physical connection to electricity; uses a battery to store power
3. Able to send and receive information wirelessly, using cellular data, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi
4. Features a user interface, such as a touchscreen or keyboard
5. Includes internal data storage
6. Often includes communication functions for voice or video calling
7. May include sensors to record and store information, such as a camera, compass, or activity
monitor

Small devices that are designed to store but not send and receive information, such as external hard
drives, are not considered mobile devices.

Mobile devices are generally small wireless computing devices such as phones and tablets.

Examples of Mobile Devices

Some of the most popular examples of mobile devices are

1. smartphones,
2. tablets,
3. laptop computers,
4. smartwatches,
5. e-readers, and
6. handheld gaming consoles.
 Smartphones are small telephones that are primarily for placing and receiving voice or video
calls via cellular or wi-fi networks. Tablets are usually larger than smartphones, with one side
occupied by a screen. Tablets may or may not have both cellular and wi-fi connectivity. Laptop
computers are mobile devices that function most similarly to desktop computers, but are
smaller and more portable. Smartwatches are wearable mobile devices that may function as an
extension of a smartphone. Some smartwatches work without being paired to other devices, as
is the case with some fitness trackers. E-readers are tablet-like devices that are optimized for
text reading. Handheld gaming consoles are mobile devices dedicated to running game
applications, which may include network features for social games.

USES OF MOBILE DEVICES

Mobile computing devices usually share the characteristics discussed previously, but some have
specialized functions. Some common uses of mobile devices are voice and video calling, Internet
browsing, watching streamed video, and gaming. Many mobile devices offer standard utilities like clock,
alarm, timer, stopwatch, and compass. Some mobile devices, such as fitness trackers, feature specialized
sets of functions. Here are some other types of mobile devices and their uses.

Mobile devices such as cell phones have changed over time. Notably, the screen sizes have increased.

SMARTPHONES

Smartphones are becoming a nearly ubiquitous element of modern life. The first cell phones were used
for placing and receiving telephone calls. As mobile technology became more sophisticated, new
features were added to mobile phones. Soon, the small devices were capable of phone calls,
photography, music storage, and gaming. Modern smartphones typically feature a touchscreen
interface, camera, and the ability to install and run apps. Now, smartphones are the most popular type
of mobile device, thanks to their versatility and portability. Many people use smartphones not just for
making phone calls, but for capturing photos and videos, consuming news and entertainment, and
fitness tracking. Advances in artificial intelligence are being applied to smartphone technology to
improve its function over time.

TABLETS

Tablets are usually larger than smartphones, but may include several of the same functions. The key
difference between smartphones and tablets is that smartphones began primarily as telephones. Tablets
originated after smartphones, and tend to be characterized by a larger screen that takes up most of the
front side. There may be buttons on the device, or it may be designed around a touchscreen interface.
Some tablets can be paired with accessories such as keyboards, so they resemble laptop computers.
Tablets are popular for mobile gaming, watching streaming videos, and work presentations.

LAPTOP COMPUTERS

For a user who requires a larger screen and full keyboard, but still needs portability and wireless
connectivity, a laptop is an excellent solution. As one of the earliest types of mobile devices, laptops
changed the way people thought about computers. Allowing people to carry a smaller device with the
functionality of a full desktop system was the main appeal of laptop computers. Laptop computers are
useful for students, business people, travelers, and gamers. Most laptop computers run the same
operating systems and software packages as desktop computers, so it is easy to transition from one to
the other without learning new skills. Many laptop computers allow users to connect multiple
peripherals, such as printers, monitors, and input devices, making them capable business tools.

A smartwatch is one example of a wearable mobile device.