Introduction
The following topics will be covered throughout the course of this term paper:
The effectiveness and efficiency mobile computing and social networks provide to capture both geolocation and customer data, and quickly upload the data to a processing server, without having to use a desktop system.
Benefits realized by consumers as they are evaluated on the ability to gain access to data via mobile applications and social networks.
The challenges of development and how they grow important as the applications must run on small screen sizes.
Platform support, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular platforms, which include iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, and Android.
The ways in which high availability is provided.
The methods being used to make these applications more secure against hacking attempts.
Geolocation and Customer Data and Uploads to Processing Server
Geolocation data determines the exact location of a piece of equipment based on its geographical coordinates and measurements. It commonly uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) and related technologies to calculate the current location in which the device is located. Several different methods may be used to determine the geographical locations of the device, including Internet Protocol (IP) or logical addressing, media access control (MAC) or hardware addressing, the use of radio frequency (RF) or wave-oriented systems, Exchangeable Image File Format (Exif) or digital camera/smartphone metadata formats, triangulation or trilateralization (coordinate specific) techniques, and other wireless positioning systems.
A geographical information system (GIS) is also used to visualize, interpret, and understand the patterns and trends of the data, and form meaningful relationships amongst all of the varied data. This creates maps and charts of the data, so that it can easily be interpreted by humans. This can be integrated into any enterprise information system framework. (GeoMattix, 2013)
Small Screen Sizes Are No Problem – Mainframes and Desktops Are No Longer Required
Devices are now growing much smaller and requiring much less power to process and transmit data today, than in years past. Operations that once required mainframes to perform can now be performed on mobile devices, using much smaller and less powerful processors. What once required a full-powered computer system to perform can now be accomplished in the palm of a hand, given today’s technologies.
Many factors must be taken into account due to the small screen sizes of mobile devices, such as the touch or tap technologies being implemented, testing and development of the applications, space variances amongst the devices, choice of platforms, mobile-optimized experience, legacy systems, and benefit versus cost and complexity of implementation.
How and where users want to engage with services needs to be taken into account. This should start with careful planning in the implementation of the design, as this will save much time and money in the long run. Learning to work with limited space can help prioritize simplicity and user satisfaction. (Bluetrain Mobile, 2014)
The limited space, by its unique nature, has its own advantages and disadvantages, which will be covered in the next section, as each of the features and limitations are covered, both in general and in platform-specific applications. The limited space allows users to use smaller devices, but does create complications, as it comes to programming each device, as the platforms supporting this space are so numerous and varied.
Deciding Among iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, and Android for Platform Support
Mobile platforms are only growing more prevalent as time goes by, and support for these platforms must be determined in advance. Apple has its iOS platform which it uses on its iPhone, iPod and iPad technologies and updates these devices and their software through its Apple Store. Google uses the Android platform