MOBILE COMPUTING

Spring 2024
Lecture 1
Course Goals
• Learn about fundamental mobile/wireless concepts

• Learn about other related concepts in fields such as

sensor networks, embedded computing, wearables,
pervasive computing

• Learn mobile development concepts and strategies (not

programming)

• Practice mobile development skills

What is computing?
The utilization of computers to complete a task. It involves both
hardware & software functions performing some sort of task with
a computer. Examples of computing being used in everyday life:
Swiping a debit card, sending an email, or using a
cell phone can all be considered forms of computing.

What is the mobility?

The capability to change location while communicating to invoke
computing service at some remote computers.
Mobile Computing Definitions
• A simple definition could be: Mobile Computing is using
a computer (of one kind or another) while on the move
• Another definition could be: Mobile Computing is when
a work process is moved from a normal fixed position to a
more dynamic position
• A third definition could be: Mobile Computing is when a
work process is carried out somewhere where it was not
previously possible
• Mobile Computing is an umbrella term used to describe
technologies that enable people to access services
anyplace, anytime, and anywhere
Mobile Computing
• Many other names/overlapping computing paradigms:
• Pervasive Computing
• Ubiquitous Computing
• Wireless Computing
• Embedded Computing
• Nomadic Computing
• Wireless Sensor Networks
• (Mobile) Ad-Hoc Networks
• Mesh Networks
• Vehicular Networks
• …
 Mobile Computing
• Mobile computing has three main components
which are
-mobile hardware
- mobile software,
- mobile communication.
MobileHardware
These devices will have a receptor medium that is capable of

sensing and receiving signals. These devices are configured to operate in full-
duplex, whereby they are capable of sending and receiving signals at the

same time. They don't have to wait until one device has finished

communicating for the other device to initiate communications.

mobile software
Mobile software is the actual program that runs on the mobile
hardware. It deals with the characteristics and requirements of
mobile applications. This is the engine of the mobile device.
In other terms, it is the operating system of the appliance. It's the e
ssential component that operates the mobile device
mobile Communication
infrastructure put in place to ensure that seamless and reliable

communication goes on. These would include devices such as

protocols, services, bandwidth, and portals necessary to

facilitate and support the stated services. The data format is

also defined at this stage. This ensures that there is no collision

with other existing systems which offer the same service.

Since the media is unguided / unbounded, the overlaying infrastructure is basically radio

wave-oriented. That is, the signals are carried over the air to intended devices that are capable

of receiving and sending similar kinds of signals.

Mobile Computing
• Applications
• Location-awareness
• Mobility Support
Mobile Computing • Security
• Resource Management
• Network Protocols
• Broadcast
Wireless Communication
• Technologies
• Standards
• Wireless Medium
Wired vs Wireless
• Wired Networks
• high bandwidth
• low bandwidth variability
• can listen on wire
• high power machines
• high resource machines
• need physical access
(security)
• low delay
• connected operation
• Mobile Networks
• low bandwidth
• high bandwidth
variability
• hidden terminal problem
• low power machines
• low resource machines
• need proximity
• higher delay
• disconnected operation
Types of Wireless Devices
• Laptops
• Palmtops
• PDAs
• Cell phones
• Smart phones
• Pagers
• Sensors
Why Go Mobile?
• Enable anywhere/anytime connectivity
• Bring computer communications to areas without pre-
existing infrastructure
• Enable mobility
• Enable new applications
• An exciting new research area
Evolution (Seven waves of mobile computing)
• The history of mobile computing can be divided into a number
of eras, or waves, each characterized by a particular
technological focus, interaction design trends, and by leading
to fundamental changes in the design and use of mobile
devices.
• Mobile computing history has, so far, entailed seven particularly
important waves.
• Although not strictly sequential, they provide a good overview
of the legacy on which current mobile computing research and
design is built.
• These waves are the basis for the technology that is used
today in research and design of mobile computing
• These seven categories are: Portability, Miniaturization,
Connectivity, Convergence, Divergence, Apps, Digital
Ecosystems
Portability
• Reducing the size of hardware to enable the creation of
computers that could be physically moved around
relatively easily.
Miniaturization
• Creating new and significantly smaller mobile form factors
that allowed the use of personal mobile devices while on
the move
Connectivity
• Developing devices and applications that allowed users to
be online and communicate via wireless data networks
while on the move
Convergence
• Integrating emerging types of digital mobile devices, such
as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile phones,
music players, cameras, games, etc., into hybrid devices
Divergence
• Opposite approach to interaction design by promoting
information appliances with specialized functionality rather
than generalized ones
Applications (Apps)
• The latest wave of applications (apps) is about developing
matter and substance for use and consumption on mobile
devices, and making access to this fun or functional
interactive application content easy and enjoyable
Digital Ecosystems
• The emerging wave of digital ecosystems is about the
larger wholes of pervasive and interrelated technologies
that interactive mobile systems are increasingly becoming
a part of
Example: Smartphone
• Portability: fit in your pocket
• Miniaturization: make it possible to build device to fit in
your pocket
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, LTE/4G, cellular, Bluetooth
• Convergence: phone, camera, gaming device, movie
streaming, music player, …
• Divergence: ?
• Applications: “Rise of the Apps”
• Digital Ecosystem: social networks, distributed gaming,
video streaming, work apps, …
Constraints and challenges faced by
mobile computing systems
• Mobile computing devices have a smaller form factor than
traditional desktops.
• Need to impose constraints on space, weight, and form
factors of these devices since their users are on the move
while computing or connecting.
• These constraints in turn impose various technological
and design restrictions on the devices.
• Constraints are:
• Resource Poor
• Less secured/reliable
• Intermittent connectivity
• Energy constrained
Resource Poor
• A computer system requires various components to process,
compute, or connect.
• Resources can be physical or virtual component.
• Example of such resources include the CPU, RAM, hard disks,
storage devices, various input/output devices like printers, and
connectivity components like Wi-Fi or modem.
• Mobile computing devices are resource limited.
• Resource restrictions can be mitigated with the use of alternate
methods for input, storage, processing, and so on.
• For example, alternate input methods of speech or handwriting
recognition can be used instead of keyboards, alternate
storage methods such as cloud storage can be used instead of
hard disks, and cloud computing can be used for certain
processing instead of more power hungry on device CPU.
Less secured/reliable
• All compute devices have important resources and store
valuable data and/or programs.
• It is important to protect access to all of these compute
resources and data through user recognition / authentication.
• Appropriate gatekeeper procedures and mechanisms should
be deployed to protect the underlying data, programs, and
apps while enforcing appropriate privacy guidelines and
protocols.
• Since mobile devices are mostly in transit, their security
becomes increasingly more challenging since these devices
may use wireless channels, public resources, or networks that
can provide easy access to these mobile systems.
Some of the sources of security risks
• Through messaging systems like SMS, MMS
• Through connection channels like Wi-Fi networks, GSM
• Through software/OS vulnerabilities to external attacks
• Through malicious software and user ignorance about it.
Some of the mitigation options are
• Use of encryption methods (Wired Equivalent Privacy:
WEP, Wi-Fi Protected Access: WPA/WPA2) encryption
• Using VPN or HTTPS to access Wi-Fi/Internet
• Allow only known MAC addresses to join or connect to
known MAC addresses only.
Intermittent connectivity
• Mobile devices may be away from various communication
infrastructures like Wi-Fi or the Internet for considerable
periods of time.
• To access required data and programs stored at remote
locations, they need to be connected if possible only
intermittently.
• Such intermittent connectivity needs a different kind of data
transfer mechanism that can handle power management
issues, package loss issues, and the like.
• Mobile devices need data to be buffered in the case where
only intermittent connections to the network are possible.
• To prevent any data loss, the data transfer mechanisms in
mobile devices need to handle cases when data is
generated or received more frequently than the available
connectivity.
Energy constrained
• Why energy availability and battery life a key constraint for
mobile devices?
• Lack of a readily available power source
• smaller and compact size and resources for power storage
• complex data management, security requirements, and connectivity
requirements
• Mobile devices use power-hungry sensing, storage, and
communication capabilities but have some very stringent power
and thermal budgets.
• These devices are without fans, are often in close skin contact
with the user, and have restricted surface area; hence they are
limited by peak power consumption since the user experience
is affected by the temperature of the device.
• This further underscores why power management and battery
life are key design parameters and constraints for mobile
devices.
A mitigation plan for Energy constrained
challenges includes
• Power management with an emphasis on
• Platform power and optimization: the power management policy
should be inclusive of available hardware resources of the mobile
platform and manage their operation for energy efficiency.
• User experience: the usage of mobile devices extends from CPU- or
graphics intensive usage to sensor-heavy usage. Various location-
based services and applications would require sensors like
accelerometers, gyrometers, and cameras. Applications using touch
capabilities would require quick exit from power-managed states and
gaming applications would require higher throughput with brighter
display. Thus power management system should consider these use
cases, and corresponding system responsiveness requirements.
• Thus mobile devices need hardware resources that provide
various low power states along with energy-aware operating
systems and applications.
• Both hardware and software should be intelligent to incorporate
user interaction, sensor inputs, and computational and protocol
optimizations and their dynamic behavior/loads.
Trends in Mobile: Phone Subscribers
According to GSMA,
the mobile industry has
scaled dramatically
over the last decade.
By 2020, the majority of
the world’s population
(56%) is expected to
have their own mobile
subscription.
Historical perspectives and the influences
of market
• The following are some of the key factors influencing the move
to mobile computing. Some of these factors also influence the
form factors within mobile computing options.
• Enhanced user experience: Mobile computing changes our
approach to connectivity: in how we connect to different geographical
locations, different people, cultures, and processes.
• Improved technology: With improved technology, mobile devices
now have improved battery life, faster processors, user-friendly and
lightweight manufacturing materials, power-efficient flexible displays,
and high-bandwidth networks. The devices also have numerous
sensors like biometric sensors, temperature and pressure sensors,
pollution sensors, and location sensors.
• New form factors: The way the user interacts with and uses mobile
devices will change with advancements in the underlying technology
• Increased connectivity/computing options: There is now an
abundance of wireless connectivity through various means
Trends in Mobile: Shopping
App Store (iOS)
• 2003: iTunes Music Store
• 2008: iPhone App Store (iPhone 3G with App Store
support)
• 2015: > 100 billion app downloads
• 2016: > 2 million apps
• 2016: China biggest App Store market
• 2016: App developers earned $20 billions
• Most downloaded app: Minecraft Pocket Edition (paid)
and Pokemon GO (free)
Trends in Mobile: Wearables
Trends in Mobile: Smartwatches
Trends in Mobile: Healthcare
Trends in Mobile: Apps
Trends in Mobile: Most Popular Apps
Most Popular Apps in 2022
Trends in Mobile: Smartphone OS
Trends in Mobile: Apps
Mobile Developer Jobs
• http://www.itcareerfinder.com/brain-food/blog/entry/best-
computer-jobs-for-the-future.html:
• #1: Mobile App Developer Employment Projections | 2010 -
2020
• 10-Year Growth Pct: 32% (much faster than avg.)
• 10-Year Growth Volume: 292,000 new jobs
• Average Salary: $95,000