Mobile Technology & Ubiquitous Computing

ICT is becoming more portable and more prominent in the information landscape. Soon, we will see ICT everywhere (both inside and outside of us).

  1. Types of Mobile Technology
  2. Phones
  3. Smart phones (data transmission)
  4. Blackberry (media convergence)
  5. Tethering (to get Internet access by hooking up your Blackberry to a laptop)
  6. iPhone (media convergence)
  7. Find my iPhone app.
  8. Cell phone (portable, calling)
  9. Texting
  10. Can combine with photos or videos
  11. Sexting
  12. Laptops: smaller portable computers
  13. Netbooks: very small and light weight, combines computing and cell phone technology
  14. Can combine with phone features such as SKYPE
  15. Ultrabooks: thinner and lighter laptops
  16. Chromebooks: computers created to take advantage of Google’s cloud services. (little storage on the machine itself)
  17. Tablets: screens with no keyboards (though these can be attached) that usually rely on touch and the use of a stylus. Very light weight. (iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Archos, Acer Iconia, Windows Surface…). Can also connect to telephone data services.
  18. Gaming devices
  19. Handhelds (PSP [PlayStation Portable] and Nintendo DS)
  20. The new DSi comes with a bidirectional camera, sound recorder, picto-chat, wireless Internet, and note taking ability
  21. Many other gaming devices have wireless features and collaborative communication features
  22. Sony Experia Play: combines phone with game play (Experia Play).
  23. GPS [Global Positioning Systems]: this can be a stand alone device or can come as a service on a cell phone, laptop, or tablet. Basically it is used for navigation.
  24. PDA’s (Portable Digital Assistant): handheld computers including smart phones and tablet PC’s.
  25. PIM’s (Personal Information Managers): includes calendars, schedulers, address books, note taking devices…
  26. Biometrics: these are different types of software/hardware that combine with biology
  27. Palm/finger print recognition for security
  28. Retina print scanners
  29. Smart cards: cards with microchips (like credit cards or ID cards)
  30. Microchips put inside the body that can be scanned
  31. E-book Readers: portable electronic text readers
  32. Sony Digital Reader
  33. Amazon Kindle
  34. Can also read text out loud
  35. Also can bookmark and write comments on the text which then can be shared with others
  36. Intelligent buildings: buildings that have ubiquitous computing features (seamless integration of technology into the design)
  37. Can monitor a person’s health condition
  38. Alleviate the need to carry technology with us
  39. Example: Songdo, Korea (
  40. Smart cars: cars that use a variety of technology to aid drivers and passengers.
  41. Rear view camera to help with parking.
  42. Built in GPS service.
  43. Bluetooth for phone connections.
  44. iPod attachment.
  45. Gesture control.
  46. Smart keys.
  47. Mercedes example.
  48. Transformation: from stationary  to mobile  to ubiquitous computing.
  49. Technology was originally available in specific locations.
  50. Telephones were screwed to a wall.
  51. TV’s were too heavy to move.
  52. Computers were kept on desks.
  53. Record players were kept on a table (or the floor).
  54. People started to carry the technology around.
  55. Cordless  cell phones  smart phones.
  56. Desktops  laptops  tablets
  57. TV sets  portable TV’s  TV apps
  58. Record players  walkmen  iTunes cloud.
  59. Technology is embedded in the environment.
  60. Smart buildings.
  61. Smart cars.
  62. We are just now entering this stage.
  63. Technology is embedded in us.
  64. Biometrics: technology inside or outside of us that provides information about us.
  65. Retina scans
  66. Finger prints
  67. Smart cards (have a microchip embedded in them to establish an individual’s identity and also for financial transactions).
  68. Passports have them.
  69. Company ID badges have them.
  70. Credit cards have them.
  71. Student ID cards have them.
  72. Data chips (placed in shoulder to provide medical information).
  73. Pacemakers. Insulin pumps…
  74. Key questions
  75. Do we own the information about us?
  76. Does the use of mobile technology affect our relationships with other people?
  77. Can we make mobile communication technology more social?
  78. What are the positive and negative consequences of having ubiquitous technology? How about biometrics?