Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Computing Management Information Systems Robert Monroe November 29, 2011

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Goals: By the end of today’s class you should be able to: Identify, and provide examples of, the major wireless networking technologies and major mobile device platforms Apply the Emerging IT Analysis Framework to current and emerging mobile device platforms Describe some of the emerging business opportunities that ubiquitous mobile computing platforms and wireless networks create

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Wireless Networking Technologies

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems PANs, LANs, MANs, and WANs Personal Area Networks (PANs) typically connect a few devices located in very close proximity (up to a max of 10 yards or so) Local Area Networks (LANs) typically connect a few to a few thousand computers in an office or campus Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) connect computers in a metropolitan area Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect computers across substantial distances (across states, countries, continents) Any can be used for public or private networks Any can be implemented as wired, wireless, or a hybrid of both

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Wireless Networking Overview Wireless networking is very similar to wired networking with the exception of transmission medium –Wired networks use copper or fiber obtic wires to transmit data –Wireless networks use radios to transmit data We will look briefly at different wireless networks –Bluetooth –WiFi –Mobile phones (3G) –Satellites

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Bluetooth – Wireless Personal Area Networks Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology designed primarily for wirelessly connecting electronic devices in close proximity Maximum range of about 30 feet Very low power consumption and output Standard commonly used for cell phones, computing peripherals, and consumer electronic devices

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems WiFi – Wireless Local Area Networks WiFi (802.11x) supports wireless communication over a few hundred feet Adapters in each wireless device communicate with base stations attached to a LAN or the internet Limited range (<100 meters) good bandwidth (10 to 100 mbps) Ubiquitous and cheap Broad compatibility

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Phones – Wireless Metro Area Networks (3G) Like Bluetooth, WiFi, and WiMax, cell phones use radios to transmit (voice) data wirelessly Mobile phone providers have evolved their mobile voice service networks into wireless, long-range broadband data networks for mobile computing devices Long range (1-15 miles) Expensive towers and equipment Medium bandwidth Moderate standardization Source: HowStuffWorks.com

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Satellites – Wireless Wide Area Networks The longest-range option for wireless networking Signals are transmitted from Earth to a satellite, which then sends the signal to another base station on Earth –Generally used to provide fast backbone network support across oceans –Rarely used for individuals or businesses Very expensive

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Computing Platforms

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Communication Tools Are Going Mobile

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Computing Platforms Are Going Mobile

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems … And Evolving Into Mobile Computing Devices

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Into The Cloud And Back Out… Image source: Wikipedia Data Processing Data Processing Rich I/O

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems What Does A “Mobile Computing Device” Do? Provide a useful way to collect, display, and process data and information while not connected to a fixed power or networking source Connect to data sources –Wirelessly or wired –Continuously or intermittently Provide input and output mechanisms

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems There Are Many Types Of Mobile Computing Devices Stand-alone vs. Requires Networking General Purpose Special Purpose

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Some Major Mobile Platforms General purpose –Laptops and Netbooks – Windows, Mac, Linux –Smartphones – iPhone, Blackberry, Android, others… –iPods, iPads and Android computing tablets Special purpose –Kindle, nook, eBooks –Digital cameras and video cameras –GPS devices –Cars Anything else?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Emerging Information Technology: A Structured Qualitative Analysis Framework Usage: –Quick filter –Foundation for detailed analysis Structure: - Six core questions - Three secondary questions

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Six Core Questions What does the technology do? What does the technology not do? What problems does the technology solve? –… and for whom? What problems does the technology create? –… and for whom? What complements the technology? Does the technology require network effects?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Secondary Questions What substitutes are available to solve the problems? How mature is the technology? What type of community is available to support and grow the technology?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Analysis Exercise Form groups of 2-4 people Use the Emerging IT Analysis Framework to evaluate one of the following mobile computing technologies: 1.Smartphones with built-in camera, video, and GPS, ‘always- on’ internet connection, and ability to run custom applications 2.iPads or Android-based tablets Use the extra analysis worksheets attached to the slides to write down your analysis Be prepared to discuss the results of your analysis

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Analysis Exercise: Functionality What doWhat do NOT do

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Analysis Exercise: Problems and Solutions Problems solveProblems create

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Analysis Exercise: Complements and Network Effects ComplementsNeed network effects?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems New Technologies Lead To New Opportunities Big idea: use mobile phones to gather data, wireless networks to collect data, and the cloud to aggregate and analyze it So how might this play out? How might we turn this big idea into compelling new products, services, and solutions to pressing social problems?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems First Stage: Active Data Collection / Aggregation People actively use mobile computing device to collect, tag and upload data –Optionally, use mobiles to display results also Examples: –Geo-tagging photos and videos for Google Maps / Earth –Trapster – avoid speeding tickets –Collecting video of news events by mobile phone camera –Tracking disease / managing disaster response INSTEDD project Telstra project – teen depression, mental illness

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Second Stage: Active Collection With Devices Extend previous model by using mobile phones as a network link for substantially more sophisticated devices Example: Low-cost ultrasound reader for the developing world

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Third Stage: Passive Data Collection/Aggregation Use mobile computing devices to collect, tag and upload data without any intervention from people –Generally requires additional sensors be added to the phone (environmental, gps, etc.) Examples: –Measuring and tracking environmental pollutants Noise - Air particulates, chemicals, heat, humidity, etc. –Traffic management and congestion control –Social and urban patterns – WikiCity senseable.mit.edu/wikicity

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Evaluating The Opportunity: Environmental Monitoring Let’s consider one class of mobile devices and one specific problem Devices: smartphones with pollution sensors Scenario: you are working at a Qatari government ministry that is charged with maintaining and improving healthy environmental conditions. You have been tasked with evaluating whether (and how) the ministry should leverage mobile devices to monitor and reduce pollution levels –Exercise: What data might you want to collect from mobile devices? How could you use this data to improve environmental health? What would you need to do to gather this data? How could you get it?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Next week Sunday December 4 we will have a guest lecture by Professor Majd Sakr on Cloud Computing No class on Tuesday, December 6. Instead there is an activity that you need to complete posted on the wiki. –Read the background materials posted to the wiki for Dec. 6. –Do your own research on an innovative use of information technology in education of your choice (K-12, college, vocational, continuing, etc.). You can interpret this broadly, though the technology or the use of the technology should be able to be clearly tied back to education somehow. –You may discuss what you find with other students but you need to do the write-up individually –Use the template in the IT for Education section of the wiki library to post a summary and analysis of example you have identified. –You must post at least one example by noon on December 6 –Your post will be graded and given the value of the day’s quiz + pre-class exercise, plus it will count for one of your graded posts to the wiki library