Condition of the Mobile User
Alexander Nelson
August 27, 2021
University of Arkansas - Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering
Reminders
Course Mechanics
Course Webpage:
https://ahnelson.uark.edu/courses/
csce-4623-mobile-programming-fall-2021/
Syllabus is on the website.
Course Communication:
https://csce4623-uark.slack.com/
This slack channel is to be the primary mode of communication
Homework - Due Friday by Midnight
Sign up on the Slack website
Use your UARK username as the slack username.
Download Android Studio
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
Video will be on the website by end of day today. Send screenshot
of android studio in direct message to my slack user (Dr. Nelson)
5% of the first project grade.
Readings
Meyers 1993 - User Interfaces
Satyanarayanan 1996 - Fundamental Challenges of Mobile
Computing
Read these by Monday, and be prepared to discuss
Condition of the Mobile User
Dimensions of Mobile Computing
Reza B’Far - Mobile Computing Principles (2005)
How does the mobile user differ?
Moving between locationsknown & unknown
Not focused oncomputing task
Requires immediacyand responsiveness
Changes tasks frequentlyand abruptly
Require access atanytime or anywhere
Text from Reza B’Far - Mobile Computing Principles (2005)
1) Moving between locations
User’s location at any given time is variable!
Related to location and QOS computing dimensions
Users expect applications to know their location with reasonable
accuracy
Luckily this is mostly done for you...
https://developer.android.com/training/location/
1) Moving between locations
User’s location at any given time is variable!
Related to location and QOS computing dimensions
Users expect applications to know their location with reasonable
accuracy
Luckily this is mostly done for you...
https://developer.android.com/training/location/
2) Not focused on task
High likelihood that user is not singularly focused
• Multitasking
• Primary focus is elsewhere
Necessitates active transactions!
Makes multiple interaction patterns more useful
e.g. Using notes app while talking on the phone
2) Not focused on task
High likelihood that user is not singularly focused
• Multitasking
• Primary focus is elsewhere
Necessitates active transactions!
Makes multiple interaction patterns more useful
e.g. Using notes app while talking on the phone
3) Immediacy and responsiveness
Users expect (and often need) to perform a task quickly
Performance cannot be an afterthought!
A short delay could lose you a user
e.g. GPS Navigation must notice when you have gone off-route
and adapt
Tolerance is dependent on application and expectation
3) Immediacy and responsiveness
Three time limits1:
• < 0.1s - User feels system acts instantaneously
• < 1s - Maintain user’s flow of thought
• < 10s - Maintain user’s attention
Plan for these limits!
Use loading screens/timers when necessary
1Jacob Nielsen - 1993
3) Immediacy and responsiveness
Interactive software must2:
• Acknowledge user actions instantly
• Let users know when system is busy
• Free users to do other things while busy
• Animate movement smoothly and clearly
• Allow users to abort lengthy operations
• Allow users to judge operation time
• Let users set their own work pace
2Jeff Johnson - GUI Bloopers 2.0 - 2008
4) Changes tasks frequently/abruptly
Mobile behavior and active transactions can result in sudden
computing needs
Applications should function despite this behavior
4) Changes tasks frequently/abruptly
Android Lifecycle
Set of callbacks which
should be implemented
5) Require access anytime and anywhere
Everywhere – Everyplace – Anyplace – Pervasive – Ubiquitous
”User expects to be able to retrieve data and compute at any time”
Start a transaction on one device – complete on another
To: John Smith
Cc/Bcc
Subject: Email Test
John,
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occae-cat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui o�cia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum
To: John Smith
Cc/Bcc
Subject: Email Test
John,
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui o�cia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium dolorem-que laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni.
5) Require access anytime and anywhere
Everywhere – Everyplace – Anyplace – Pervasive – Ubiquitous
”User expects to be able to retrieve data and compute at any time”
Start a transaction on one device – complete on another
To: John Smith
Cc/Bcc
Subject: Email Test
John,
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occae-cat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui o�cia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum
To: John Smith
Cc/Bcc
Subject: Email Test
John,
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui o�cia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium dolorem-que laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni.
How does the mobile user differ?
Moving between locationsknown & unknown
Not focused oncomputing task
Requires immediacyand responsiveness
Changes tasks frequentlyand abruptly
Require access atanytime or anywhere
Text from Reza B’Far - Mobile Computing Principles (2005)
Let’s discuss the final project
Project Specifications
The final project is worth 35% of your grade
I expect at least 35% of your effort in the course!
43 classes × 4 hours = 172 hours
172 hours × 0.35 = 60 hours
Project Specifications
In the syllabus you will see this line:
“The projects will have bi-weekly checkpoint reports”
The first will be due September 10th
By that time you will need to identify:
• The group (or individual)
• The project
• The form it will take (e.g. phone, tablet, watch)
In all, there will be 6 reports. I will post a template on the website.
Project Ideas - Facilitate Field Data Collection
Create application to facilitate field data collection3
3https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9933881
Project Ideas - Post-Quantum Safety App
Use one of NIST PQC candidates4to
encrypt mobile data for PQC.
4https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography/round-2-
submissions
Mobile GPGPU Service
Write a service that allows arbitrary ML calls to the mobile GPU
Project Ideas - Assistive Mobility
Make application to facilitate Razorback Paratransit services5
5https://parking.uark.edu/transit-services/paratransit.php
Project Ideas - Virtual Memorials
Use mobile and VR technologies to facilitate new ways to
experience memorials
Prarie Grove Battlefield?6
6https://future.ncpc.gov/
Project Ideas - U of A(ugmented)
Use the phone as an AR application for virtual tours
Either target for new students or homecoming