Introduction to Mobile Development

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Mobile Communications

•One of the fastest growing industries on earth

•Unprecedented consumer take-up•Mobile phones traditionally seen as one-to-

one communication tools• Increasingly seen as a "media platform" or

"mobile device"

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Mobile Platform: Interface ConsiderationsAdvantages• One Hand• On the move (i.e. no

office implements around)

Disadvantages• Keypad problems (non-

intuitive)• No Mouse

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Mobile Limitations: Input

•Keypads vs touch screen

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Mobile Limitations: Input

•Text input is slow and can be seen as an obstacle ▫Minimise text input

wherever possible▫.mobi example

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Mobile Limitations: Screen Size

•Different resolutions / aspect ratios

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LG Viewty 

240x400

Sony Ericsson T303

128x160

Nokia6300

240x320

Blackberry8320

320x240

Mobile Limitations: Screen Size

• Games / Applications need to be adapted to work at different resolutions:

Other Mobile Limitations

•Battery life•Graphical capabilities▫3D support limited

•Sound▫MP3 support very limited▫MIDI support more common▫Can be annoying in some usage scenarios

•Literally 1000s of different devices on the market

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Other Mobile Limitations

•Network / Bandwidth ▫Network speeds vary depending on

coverage and device▫Download charges vary, can be expensive

to download lots of data. For e.g. music and video

•Multiplayer capabilities▫Limited and can experience disconnection

regularly (for e.g. when going through tunnels on trains)

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The Mobile Opportunity

•A mobile phone is always with you, a good mobile application takes advantage of 'mobility' and location

•Can be location aware (GPS / LBS)•Usage in short bursts, as opposed to long

sessions•Can work in conjunction with web

applications and services, for e.g. Flickr, Facebook, Amazon, Google earth or other web services

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Social Impact

•Creativity ▫take a photo, decoration, ring-tones and

social creativity)▫Mobility (communicate on-the-go, media

consumption and production on-the-go, extension of the human, GPS etc…)

•Shozu, flickr, Facebook, Bebo

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Case Study 1 – Mobile Visitor Guide•Digital visitor guide•Allows user to look up

information on a certain location:

•Attractions, places to visit, eat etc..

•Connects to online database and uses information from Real Yorkshire website.

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Case Study 2 – Yarwood Promotional Game

•Promotes Yarwood Supalite Brand

•Simple 'pick up and play' casual game

•Simple interface, one button used

•Works on all devices, small dynamic application

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Case Study 3 - Ecorio

•Uses GPS to track location•Tracks your movement and

calculates carbon output based on transport method used

•Find out detailed information on your carbon footprint

•Allows you to offset your carbon direct via mobile application

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