Characteristics Of Mobile Computing

The term mobile computing is defined as a collection of technologies which enables the user to transmit data without having to be connected to a fixed physical link anyplace, anytime and anywhere. Mobile computing is also known as nomadic computing since mobile users are allowed to access the data no matter where they are at any given moment. Such users are referred as technomads.

The fast growing wireless technology has made information accessible from anywhere and at any time. Mobile computing devices such as Laptops, Smart phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and tablet PC etc., will be equipped with a wireless connection to the fixed part of the network which is referred to as mobile computing. The mobility feature allows the user

Many tedious mobile solutions have become possible because of the extremely powerful and small computing devices, expert software and improved telecommunication. The following are some components based on which some characteristics of mobile computing are defined.

1. Hardware: Some factors such as size, weight, storage, and processor decide the characteristics of hardware used in mobile computing. Apart from these factors secondary storage, screen size and type, input means, output means, battery life, communication capabilities, expandability and durability of device.

2. Software: Mobile computers make use of a wide variety of system and application software. The most common system software and operating environments used on mobile computers includes MSDOS, Windows, UNIX, android etc. These operating systems range in capabilities from a simple graphically- enhanced- pen- enabled DOS environment to the powerful capabilities of Windows NT. Each operating system/environment has some form of integrated development environment (IDE) for application development. Most of the operating environments provide more than one development environment option for custom application

Communication: The ability of a mobile computer to communicate in some fashion with a fixed information system is a defining characteristic of mobile computing. The type and availability of communication medium significantly impacts the type of mobile computing application that can be created. The way a mobile computing device communicates with a fixed information system can be categorized as: (a) connected (b) weakly connected (c) batch and (d) disconnected. The connected category implies a continuously available high-speed connection. The ability to communicate continuously, but at slow speeds, allows mobile computers to be weakly connected to the fixed information system.

1.1.2 Architecture of mobile computing Mobile computing uses three-tier architecture. In the three-tier architecture, the first layer is the User Interface or Presentation Tier. This layer deals with user interaction, device handling and rendering. This tier includes a user system interface where user services (such as session, text input, and dialog and display management) reside. The second tier is the Process Management or Application Tier. This layer is capable of accommodating hundreds of users. Fig.1.1 Three tier architecture for mobile