Wireless Information Services Speaker: Jerry Gao Ph.D. San Jose State University URL: August, 2002

Topic: Wireless Information Services - Wireless Information Services - Major Features of Mobile Internet Users - Classifications of Wireless internet Service - Key Services of Wireless Internet - Design Mobile-Based User Clients - Meeting Mobile User Expectations - Design Guidelines for Mobile User Interfaces - Client-Server Deployment Models Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002 Presentation Outline All Rights Reserved

Wireless Information Services This convergence between the wireless and wired worlds leads to the notion of mobile Internet services. The word “convergence” is derived from the verb “converge”; the latter word, in its truest sense, means to “meet” or to”come together and unite in a common interest or focus”. In the content of mobile devices and the classic web, convergence encompasses the seamless integration of heterogeneous networks, terminals, applications, and content. Mobile Internet Services would empower the user to access the same suite of rich value-added applications at work, at home, and one the road. Wireless Internet services offer users with various services at any time, anywhere, from any device. Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services

Major Features of Mobile Internet Users Access the Internet through various mobile devices Operate in a highly dynamic environment, and may not be as tightly focused on the task and hand. Have a very short access time. Limited display sizes, keypads, storage space, and battery power. Access mobile services based on –The user’s preferences or context –The user’s current location –The user’s dynamic needs Integrated with voice and multimedia Integrated with s, instant messages, and asynchronous notifications features. Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services

Key Services for the Mobile Internet Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services The Mobile Internet - enabled by the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) --> allows users to access services over high-latency, low-bandwidth cellular networks from mobile devices. The applications may deliver various data & information and services over the Internet to mobile users at any time and anywhere. The delivered data content and services may be time-sensitive, location- sensitive, or secure in nature. There are several types of important mobile internet services:

Classifications of Wireless Internet Services Information services: –map, weather forecast, stock quotes, news, sports, information directory... Communication services: – , instant messages, notification, discussion group,... Transaction services: –billing, banking, trading,... Portal and mobile search engines: –mobile portals and search engines... Personal information services: –address book, contact list, meeting scheduler, calendar,.. Mobile commerce services: –Mobile shopping, trading, bargain, …. Real state industry: Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved

Classifications of Wireless Internet Services Marketing and advertising services: –Wireless advertising, mobile coupons, sale force services, –Mobile marketing agents and marketing portal Transportation services: –FastTrack, FastParking,... Enterprise services: –mobile ordering and reservation for cinema, restaurant, … –mobile customer support,…. Politic services: –mobile election and voting E-learning and education services: –e-learning in classrooms and distance learning –mobile registration,... Entertainment services: –Games, movie, audio books,... Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved

Key Services for the Mobile Internet Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Telematics: The term telematics was originally used to identify capabilities associated with the convergence of telecommunication data and information processing. More recently, it has been associated with wireless communications systems in automotive. The next generation of telematics systems will greatly benefit automotive drivers, especially mobile professionals. These “Internet on wheels” systems will allow drivers to take their world with them as never before. Today, the market is clearly ready for the new technology. According to a recent Gartner survey of U.S. households that bought a new car in 1999, 70% had a mobile phone and 65% had internet access.

Key Services for the Mobile Internet Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Users of Telematics Systems will access the following services : - Up-to-the-minute travel news (traffic updates, directions, maps,…) - Location-based services (locating Hotel, Gas station, or ATM…) - Information (sports, news, stock updates, weather…) - Toll payment via smart cards - Entertainment (games, books, magazines, and newspapers) - Automotive amenities (roadside assistance, concierge services, stolen vehicle tracking, and diagnostic checks)

Mobile Subscribers vs. Consumers Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services In the wireless marketplace, device users are subscribers. In addition, they also pay on a regular basis for access to the service and offered data and applications. The major differences between traditional consumers and subscribers: Traditional consumers pay once for a product or service of limited duration. However, wireless subscribers may become a long-term users as long as they like the offered services and products. Wireless subscribers tends to be more aware of the cost of information access than the average desktop users. They consider themselves as active participants in an ongoing business transaction, rather than just passive consumers. This shift in the customer-provider relationship and force to use a different business model.

Design Mobile Clients for Wireless Users Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services When setting out to create a wireless Web site, you should ask yourself the following questions : - What are you providing to your subscribers? - What are you asking for in return? - What implicit costs are you asking your subscribers to bear? - Is what you are providing equivalent in value to the sum of the implicit and explicit costs? - What kind of long-term relationship are you seeking with your subscribers? The answers to these questions are litmus test as to the true utility of your service to your subscribers. This helps you explore how to add value to your content.

Design Mobile Clients for Wireless Users Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Having an understanding of data mobility and your subscriber’s environment will help you establish content in a manner best suited to its use. To foster this understanding, ask yourself the following questions : - In what sort of surroundings will your content be viewed? - How much attention will your subscribers give your content? - What sort of mood will your subscribers be in when they view your content? What about when they are done viewing it? - Will your subscribers perceive the information you are providing as an integral part of the device? - Will the information reflect their lifestyles? If not, why?

Design Mobile Clients for Wireless Users Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Data mobility requires you to pay attention to the following aspects: - Easy of use: access to desired information must be fast and hassle- free for users. Considering that - Users may not understand how to use computers. - Users may doing something as they access your content. - Information access: users try to access critical information as part of their tasks or activities. They want to complete as soon as possible in the most cases. - View expectations: User may expect the content of your site to act in a manner similar to the rest of their wireless devices. They may consider your site as a part of the device. - Good performance: User expect the wireless access as a personal access not remote access.

Meeting the User Expectations Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Users’ high expectations --> unfailing reliability, speedy operation, and easy of use. - Latency: Due to the limits of bandwidth, storage, and power, we encounter the serious latency problem. Mobile users usually do not want to wait. Design Principles and Tips: - Design small pages with a simple format and limited data content --> minimize the usage of memory and computing power. - Use single screen - Single document <= 1/2 kilobytes - Text should be concise, clear and simply formatted - Structure your pages to minimize network reconnections.

Meeting the User Expectations Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services - Throughput: Due to the nature of wireless networks, the network throughput is always an issue when more users competing for limited resources. For users’ view, the apparent throughput (how much data appears to be exchanged) is opposed as the network throughput (which can be measured by looking at the average amount of data exchanged over time), Design Principles and Tips: - Control page length through appropriate formatting - Presenting information piecemeal rather than in one big chunk - Use images judiciously can help advance the perception of high throughput.

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services - Fonts: - Limited fonts provided by mobile devices - Stick to the default font on mobile devices - Use the selected font from users on the browser - Avoid to use more than font on your web site. - Fonts with the same name may be different from device to device. - The same font on different devices may generate different outputs. - Scrolling: - Limited screen size -> the need of scrolling. - Create short pages to avoid a lot of scrolling. - User input text: - Limited screen size and input keys --> hard to input text - Minimize the data input by using selection, choice, list...

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services - Images: - Used rarely for branding and advertising - Keep images or icons as small as possible - Present images and graphics clearly in a monochrome device - Control the size and the content of the icon - Image maps only supported in some mobile web browsers - Create images with high contrast colors which are viewable in black and white - Text string: - Sentences should be simple and concisely - Avoid run-on sentences, subordinate clauses - Never use a long word unless necessary - Present short and sweet messages and content <= 100 chars for screen phones <= 1000 chars for super phones and PDA per page.

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services - Tables: - Keep tables with few columns and rows - Good table examples: - weather forecast, stock quote,.. - For complex tables, break down to multiple tables - Avoid nested tables - Colors: - Use color sparingly. - Many devices may not have a color screen. - Stick to default colors - Minimize the number of colors in each page

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Choosing input methods: - Minimize user inputs. - Provide selection information, list, choices, and check boxes - Use buttons and pick lists in place of input text fields (1) Making choices: - Menus - pick lists to replace text inputs - Keep a limited number of menu options - Avoid the need for scrolling (2) Validation input at the client side - WML provides the feature to check the inputs (3) Check boxes: - Used for make a selection from a number of options (4) Touch screens:

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Choosing input methods: (5) Buttons: - Buttons provide an opportunity for the wireless content developer to get creative and emulate a device’s native interface. - Use the screen spaces - Avoid to use the specific features and keys (or buttons) from specific devices. - Keep consistent style and labels Please indicate the type of account: 1 > Savings 2 Checking ________________________ OKChange Enter account no: | ________________________ OKReset Information Account Type: Savings Account No: #: : Balance: $ ________________________ OKChange

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Choosing input methods: (6) Finding Locations: - Design and implement a positing mechanism - Only ask the necessary information - Provide a navigation aid, such as map, directions - Optimize user input for location finding Weather For a regional weather forecast, enter either Zip code: XXX or City, State: XXX,XXX ________________________ Weather You entered San Jose, Please select either: San Jose, CA (USA) San Jose (Costa Rica) ______________ Forecast

Design Guidelines for the Mobile User Interface Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Choosing input methods: (6) Finding Locations: - Design and implement a positing mechanism - Only ask the necessary information - Provide a navigation aid, such as map, directions - Optimize user input for location finding Weather For a regional weather forecast, enter either Zip code: XXX or City, State: XXX,XXX ________________________ Weather You entered San Jose, Please select either: San Jose, CA (USA) San Jose (Costa Rica) ______________ Forecast

The Client-Server Model - The I-Mode Deployment Model Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services PDC-C Wireless Network User Agent HTTP Server cHTML Content Server Proxy Server Protocol Gateway Internet I-mode Gateway I-mode handset

The Client-Server Model - The WAP Deployment Model Jerry Gao Ph.D.10/2002All Rights Reserved Topic: Wireless Information Services Wireless Network User Agent HTTP Server cHTML Content Server Proxy Server Protocol Gateway Internet WAP Client WAP Gateway