Introduction CS5011/CS4032: Mobile Computing Bruce Scharlau, University of Aberdeen, 2012

Introduction

CS5011/CS4032:

Mobile Computing

Bruce Scharlau, University of Aberdeen, 2012

Mobile computing is exciting

• Write down what you think is exciting about mobile

• Compare this with the person on your left

• Compare this with the person on your right



http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/09/23/mg-mobile

http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/09/23/mg-mobile

Mobile applications reduce friction


Mobile applications are almost ubiquitous in developed countries


Does anyone know someone who doesn’t have a smartphone?

Even your parents?

Mobile is 7th Mass Mediaht

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http://mobile7th.futuretext.com/

There are a lot of mobiles


How many mobile phone subscriptions?


There are a lot of mobiles5 billion subscriptions with global population of 6.8 billion

http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2010/08/5-4-3-2-1-as-in-billions-what-do-these-gigantic-numbers-mean.html

Above 100% mobile rate in developed world59% in emerging world

Emerging world still on WAP for data – this is were 5.6 billion people live

3.6 billion with at least one mobile

There are a lot of mobiles


SMARTPHONE OPERATING SYSTEMS1 - Symbian (Nokia) 27.0 million for 44%2 - Android (Google) 11.4 million for 18%3 - Blackberry (RIM) 11.2 million for 18%4 - iOS/iPhone (Apple) 8.4 million for 14%5 - Windows Mobile (Microsoft) 1.6 million for 3%Rest of Operating systems 2.1 millionTOTAL smartphone OS devices sold in Q2 61.7 million

http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2010/08/final-numbers-q2-of-2010-for-smartphone-market-shares.html

Mobile applications reach the parts others don’t

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSMBruce Scharlau, University of Aberdeen, 2012

Understanding web sites is fine for building mobile friendly sites


Mobile and desktop development differ

What differences are there?


Course is a mixture of lectures, practicals and discussions


Lectures introduce topics covered in practicals

Cover technical and context issuesCover technical and context issues


Discussions cover wider issues

Presentations for you to find what interests you on the topic

Presentations for you to find what interests you on the topic

Chance for others to discuss topic in detailChance for others to discuss topic in detail


You will do two presentations

• First presentation on discussion topic will be marked by fellow students as summative, so does not count

• Second presentation will be to rest of class on your assessment, as formative, so will count


Assessment will challenge youWrite a pub | cinema | restaurant | cafe | museum, etc

finding and reviewing tool.

Write a calorie counter tied to Tesco API to look up items and keep track of calories for day, week, etc

Or, you can propose something else which uses open data and live data with which the user can interact

Use either Java ME, RIM, Google Android, iOS or Windows Mobile


iOS and Windows Mobileare different

You can use these two, and I will help as needed, and can point you to resources and people, but I’ve no experience using them

This shouldn’t stop you. If you want to use them, then we’ll find a way to support you


Information from the net and books

http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/%7Ebscharla/teaching/CS5011/information/


Lots of materials on the web for whichever platform you want to use


Mobiles make it easier to do what you need to do when and where it’s convenient

Mobiles make it easier to do what you need to do when and where it’s convenient


For example, if I want to book a flight…

http://sender11.typepad.com/sender11/2007/05/case_study_and_.html

http://www.branova.no/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wili/140840576/


Design finished

http://sender11.typepad.com/sender11/2007/05/case_study_and_.html

http://www.braathensitsolutions.com/homenew


Number of steps on the web

Departure and arrival citiesDeparture and arrival cities

Number of passengersNumber of passengers

Which flightWhich flight

PaymentPayment

Etc, etc Etc, etc


Mobile doesn’t have to be the same

Assume specific type of passengerAssume specific type of passenger

Assume payment is already determinedAssume payment is already determined

Assume specific type of flightsAssume specific type of flights


Mobile development is challenging

Constraints on many aspects Constraints on many aspects


Variety of languages and platforms to choose from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_development


There is the fragmentation issue

http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/%7Edamithch/df/device-fragmentation.htmBruce Scharlau, University of Aberdeen, 2012

Android offers fast development

Design screens in xml or programmaticallyDesign screens in xml or programmatically

Ready to use librariesReady to use libraries

Code in JavaCode in Java


Use App Inventor for pseudo developmentUse App Inventor for pseudo development

iOS for iPhone and iPad

You need to use a Mac for development


Windows Mobile

Plenty of tools available, and should be straight forward


PhoneGap seeks to overcome some issues

Develop once with HTML and CSS and push (compile) to chosen platform


851 different handsets used in the UK

You can’t test them allYou can’t test them all

What could you do?What could you do?


Aim for widest possible coverage

Know your target marketKnow your target market


Think small when using mobile

It’s not a desktopIt’s not a desktop

Smaller set of featuresSmaller set of features

Reduced memoryReduced memory

Tighter restrictionsTighter restrictions


Possibilities are still plentiful


Why have mobile versions?

Both have web based versions alreadyBoth have web based versions already


Mobile application has better features

PersistencePersistence

AuthenticationAuthentication

APIs not in browserAPIs not in browser



They make life easierThey make life easier


Documents

Introduction CS5011/CS4032: Mobile Computing Bruce Scharlau, University of Aberdeen, 2012