Showing papers on "Mobile technology published in 2008"

Research Approaches to Mobile Use in the Developing World: A Review of the Literature

Abstract: This paper reviews roughly 200 recent studies of mobile (cellular) phone use in the developing world, and identifies major concentrations of research. It categorizes studies along two dimensions. One dimension distinguishes studies of the determinants of mobile adoption from those that assess the impacts of mobile use, and from those focused on the interrelationships between mobile technologies and users. A secondary dimension identifies a subset of studies with a strong economic development perspective. The discussion considers the implications of the resulting review and typology for future research.

Virtual instance architecture for mobile device management systems

Abstract: System and method for remotely managing mobile devices. A virtual instance mobile device is maintained for each physical mobile device to be managed. Each virtual instance mobile device is executable in a computer runtime environment and includes a hardware emulation component configured to emulate the hardware components of the corresponding physical mobile device and a software emulation component corresponding to the software components of the physical mobile device, which is executable within the context of the hardware emulation component. Synchronization between the virtual instance mobile devices and their corresponding physical mobile devices is maintained, and data obtained from the physical mobile devices is stored. The physical mobile devices are remotely managed by utilizing their corresponding virtual instance mobile devices respectively.

Anonysense: privacy-aware people-centric sensing

Abstract: Personal mobile devices are increasingly equipped with the capability to sense the physical world (through cameras, microphones, and accelerometers, for example) and the, network world (with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces). Such devices offer many new opportunities for cooperative sensing applications. For example, users' mobile phones may contribute data to community-oriented information services, from city-wide pollution monitoring to enterprise-wide detection of unauthorized Wi-Fi access points. This people-centric mobile-sensing model introduces a new security challenge in the design of mobile systems: protecting the privacy of participants while allowing their devices to reliably contribute high-quality data to these large-scale applications.We describe AnonySense, a privacy-aware architecture for realizing pervasive applications based on collaborative, opportunistic sensing by personal mobile devices. AnonySense allows applications to submit sensing tasks that will be distributed across anonymous participating mobile devices, later receiving verified, yet anonymized, sensor data reports back from the field, thus providing the first secure implementation of this participatory sensing model. We describe our trust model, and the security properties that drove the design of the AnonySense system. We evaluate our prototype implementation through experiments that indicate the feasibility of this approach, and through two applications: a Wi-Fi rogue access point detector and a lost-object finder.

Predicting technology acceptance and adoption by the elderly: a qualitative study

Abstract: Technology adoption has been studied from a variety of perspectives. Information systems, Sociology and Human-Computer Interaction researchers have come up with various models incorporating factors and phases to predict adoption that, in turn, will lead to persistent use. Technology acceptance by the elderly mobile phone user has received less attention and no model currently exists to predict factors influencing their technology adoption. A literature study yielded a set of acceptance factors (derived mostly from quantitative studies) and adoption phases (derived mostly from qualitative studies) that could influence and predict mobile phone adoption by the elderly user. We confirmed a subset of these factors by consulting findings from research into the context of senior mobile phone users, including the needs and limitations of these users. We then verified the factors qualitatively by means of structured interviews with senior mobile phone users. The interviews included the use of scenarios as well as a mobile phone design activity. Triangulating the quantitative findings from literature with the qualitative findings from this study led to a set of interlinked acceptance factors and adoption phases that we present as the Senior Technology Acceptance& Adoption model for Mobile technology (STAM). This paper makes a contribution to understanding technology acceptance by senior users and should be of interest to researchers, designers and decision-makers on technology adoption, especially mobile features and services.

A diary study of mobile information needs

Abstract: Being mobile influences not only the types of information people seek but also the ways they attempt to access it. Mobile contexts present challenges of changing location and social context, restricted time for information access, and the need to share attentional resources among concurrent activities. Understanding mobile information needs and associated interaction challenges is fundamental to improving designs for mobile phones and related devices. We conducted a two-week diary study to better understand mobile information needs and how they are addressed. Our study revealed that depending on the time and resources available, as well as the situational context, people use diverse and, at times, ingenious ways to obtain needed information. We summarize key findings and discuss design implications for mobile technology.

A Model of Traveller Acceptance of Mobile Technology

Abstract: With the growing popularity of mobile technology, mobile communications are becoming an important channel for tourism organisations. This study builds upon a conceptual framework that explains the factors infl uencing tourist acceptance of mobile devices. To represent the uniqueness of mobile technology acceptance based on an extensive literature review on user technology acceptance, this study proposes two external variables (technology experience and trip experience) and two infl uential determinants (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use). These factors together determine user attitudes towards using mobile devices and, consequently, infl uence user intention and willingness to adopt mobile devices in the tourism context. The results of a confi rmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling showed that trip experience and technology experience positively infl uenced perceived performance and perceived ease of use, and the factors positively related to travellers’ attitudes towards using mobile devices and intention to use them within the tourism context. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Informal Learning with PDAs and Smartphones

Abstract: There has been increasing interest in informal learning in recent years alongside interest in how such learning can be supported by technology. However, relatively little is known about the extent to which adults make use of their own mobile devices to support informal learning. In this study, a survey was used to investigate whether, and to what extent, experienced users of mobile devices use their mobile devices to support intentional informal learning. If so, do they make use of mobile device connectivity to support opportunistic informal learning and does such connectivity support or encourage collaborative informal learning? Experienced mobile device users were recruited from web forums and business, and asked whether they used their devices to support informal learning. A pattern of learning uses emerged, some of which deployed the mobile device capabilities relatively unchanged, others triggered adaptations to typical learning activities to provide a better fit to the needs of the learner. These informal learning activities provided the basis for the design of a flexible mobile learning framework that can be extended to support developments in mobile technology, and increasing use of Web 2.0 technologies by informal learners.

Interactive locked state mobile communication device

Abstract: A mobile communication device receives current information while the mobile communication device is in one of a sleep state or a locked state, and associates one or more portions of the current information with one or more corresponding windows. The mobile communication device also displays, via a display associated with the mobile communication device, the one or more corresponding windows and the one or more associated portions of the current information while the mobile communication device is in the locked state. The mobile communication device further enables a user associated with the mobile communication device to manipulate the one or more displayed corresponding windows while the mobile communication device is in the locked state.

Cyber-Bullying: Issues and Solutions for the School, the Classroom and the Home

Abstract: This book looks in depth at the emerging issue of cyber-bullying. In this increasingly digital world cyber-bullying has emerged as an electronic form of bullying that is difficult to monitor or supervise because it often occurs outside the physical school setting and outside school hours on home computers and personal phones. These web-based and mobile technologies are providing young people with what has been described as: ‘an arsenal of weapons for social cruelty’. These emerging issues have created an urgent need for a practical book grounded in comprehensive scholarship that addresses the policy-vacuum and provides practical educational responses to cyber-bullying. Written by one of the few experts on the topic Cyber-Bullying develops guidelines for teachers, head teachers and administrators regarding the extent of their obligations to prevent and reduce cyber-bullying. The book also highlights ways in which schools can network with parents, police, technology providers and community organizations to provide support systems for victims (and perpetrators) of cyber-bullying.

Virtualized in-cloud security services for mobile devices

Abstract: Modern mobile devices continue to approach the capabilities and extensibility of standard desktop PCs. Unfortunately, these devices are also beginning to face many of the same security threats as desktops. Currently, mobile security solutions mirror the traditional desktop model in which they run detection services on the device. This approach is complex and resource intensive in both computation and power. This paper proposes a new model whereby mobile antivirus functionality is moved to an off-device network service employing multiple virtualized malware detection engines. Our argument is that it is possible to spend bandwidth resources to significantly reduce on-device CPU, memory, and power resources. We demonstrate how our in-cloud model enhances mobile security and reduces on-device software complexity, while allowing for new services such as platform-specific behavioral analysis engines. Our benchmarks on Nokia's N800 and N95 mobile devices show that our mobile agent consumes an order of magnitude less CPU and memory while also consuming less power in common scenarios compared to existing on-device antivirus software.

A survey of mobile and wireless technologies for augmented reality systems

Abstract: Recent advances in hardware and software for mobile computing have enabled a new breed of mobile augmented reality (AR) systems and applications. A new breed of computing called ‘augmented ubiquitous computing’ has resulted from the convergence of wearable computing, wireless networking, and mobile AR interfaces. In this paper, we provide a survey of different mobile and wireless technologies and how they have impact AR. Our goal is to place them into different categories so that it becomes easier to understand the state of art and to help identify new directions of research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mobility, Data Mining and Privacy: Geographic Knowledge Discovery

Abstract: The technologies of mobile communications and ubiquitous computing pervade our society, and wireless networks sense the movement of people and vehicles, generating large volumes of mobility data. This is a scenario of great opportunities and risks: on one side, mining this data can produce useful knowledge, supporting sustainable mobility and intelligent transportation systems; on the other side, individual privacy is at risk, as the mobility data contain sensitive personal information. A new multidisciplinary research area is emerging at this crossroads of mobility, data mining, and privacy. This book assesses this research frontier from a computer science perspective, investigating the various scientific and technological issues, open problems, and roadmap. The editors manage a research project called GeoPKDD, Geographic Privacy-Aware Knowledge Discovery and Delivery, funded by the EU Commission and involving 40 researchers from 7 countries, and this book tightly integrates and relates their findings in 13 chapters covering all related subjects, including the concepts of movement data and knowledge discovery from movement data; privacy-aware geographic knowledge discovery; wireless network and next-generation mobile technologies; trajectory data models, systems and warehouses; privacy and security aspects of technologies and related regulations; querying, mining and reasoning on spatiotemporal data; and visual analytics methods for movement data. This book will benefit researchers and practitioners in the related areas of computer science, geography, social science, statistics, law, telecommunications and transportation engineering.

Consumer configurable mobile communication web filtering solution

Abstract: Consumer configurable mobile communications solution enabling web filtering based on policy-enforcement services allowing authorized users to define, manage and enforce restrictions for mobile web data and services of a secondary mobile device.

Sharing of gps information between mobile devices

Abstract: Mobile radio devices with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers are able to share GPS information through a wireless communication connection. When one mobile radio device acquires GPS information associated with positioning of that mobile radio device, the mobile radio device can establish a communication connection with another mobile radio device via a wireless link to share that acquired GPS information with the other mobile radio device.

The Effect of Mobile Phone Screen Size on Video Based Learning

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of mobile phone screen size (1.65 inches - 2.75 inches) on video based learning. It first examines the educational benefits of video as a teaching medium and surveys the usage and issues related with video based learning. After which, it investigates the value of video for mobile learning. It reports on an empirical investigation that studied the effect that screen-size has on video-based m-learning. Findings indicate that regardless of the screen size of a mobile phone, students tended to have a positive overall opinion of m-learning and watching the video significantly increased their knowledge of the subject area. However, if an m-learning environment that relies heavily on video based material is displayed on a mobile device with a small screen, such as an average mobile phone, then the effectiveness of the learning experience may be inhibited. Paper identifies the underlying reasons why mobile phone screen size may be a problem for video based m-learning. The implications of this finding are discussed.

Innovation in practice: mobile phone technology in patient care.

Abstract: Mobile phones are becoming increasingly important in everyday life and now in healthcare. There has been a steady growth of information and communication technologies in health communication and technology is used progressively in telemedicine, wireless monitoring of health outcomes in disease and in the delivery of health interventions. Mobile phones are becoming an important method of encouraging better nurse-patient communication and will undoubtedly increase in application over coming years. This article presents recent developments and applications of mobile technology for health promotion and patient-monitoring in chronic disease.

Location-based authentication of mobile device transactions

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for implementing location-based authentication of both online and mobile web-based transactions. This implementation may involve verifying whether a mobile device (such as a cellular telephone) is proximate to a computer from which the transaction is being performed. Depending upon the location of the mobile device, further transactions may be approved or rejected. In further implementations, the transactions may be made from the mobile device itself. In this case, the location of the mobile device compared with one or more pre-stored locations may affect whether further transactions from the mobile device are approved or rejected.

Personalized Intelligent Mobile Learning System for Supporting Effective English Learning

Abstract: Since English has been an international language, how to enhance English levels of people by useful computer assisted learning forms or tools is a critical issue in non-English speaking countries because it definitely affects the overall competition ability of a country. With the rapid growth of wireless and mobile technologies, the mobile learning has been gradually considered as a novel and effective learning form because it inherits all the advantages of e-learning as well as breaks the limitations of learning time and space occurring in the traditional classroom learning. To provide an effective and flexible learning environment for English learning, this study adopts the advantages of the mobile learning to present a personalized intelligent mobile learning system (PIMS) which can appropriately recommend English news articles to learners based on the learners’ reading abilities evaluated by the proposed fuzzy Item Response Theory (FIRT). In addition, to promote the reading abilities of English news, the unknown or unfamiliar vocabularies of individual learner can also be automatically discovered and retrieved from the reading English news articles by the PIMS system according to the English vocabulary ability of individual learner for enhancing vocabulary learning. Currently, the PIMS system has been successfully implemented on the personal digital assistant (PDA) to provide personalized mobile learning for promoting the reading ability of English news. Experimental results indicated that the proposed system provides an efficient and effective mobile learning mechanism by adaptively recommending English news articles as well as enhancing unknown or unfamiliar vocabularies’ learning for individual learners.

Handbook of Research in Mobile Business: Technical, Methodological and Social Perspectives

Abstract: The current technological and commercial landscape points to an expanding role for the rapidly evolving innovations in mobile technology in shaping current forms of business and transactions and driving the development of new models. The Handbook of Research in Mobile Business: Technical, Methodological and Social Perspectives, Second Edition collects the latest research advances in the rapidly evolving field of mobile business to provide researchers, educators, and practitioners with the leading reference source on the subject. Combining authoritative articles in this reference compilation, the Handbook of Research in Mobile Business: Technical, Methodological and Social Perspectives, Second Edition is an essential addition to academic, research, and professional library collections across the globe.

System and methods for monitoring the context associated with a mobile communication device

Abstract: Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.

Practicing Medicine in a Technological Age: Using Smartphones in Clinical Practice

Abstract: Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionize how physicians practice medicine. From having access to the latest medical research at the point of care to being able to communicate at a moment's notice with physicians and colleagues around the world, we are practicing medicine in a technological age. During recent years, many physicians have been simultaneously using a pager, cellular telephone, and personal digital assistant (PDA) to keep in communication with the hospital and to access medical information or calendar functions. Many physicians have begun replacing multiple devices with a "smartphone," which functions as a cellular telephone, pager, and PDA. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the currently available platforms that make up the smartphone devices and the available medical software. Each platform has its unique advantages and disadvantages, and available software will vary by device and is in constant flux.

Always on - language in an online and mobile world

Abstract: Review of the book: Naomi S. Baron. Oxford University Press. 304pp, £15.99. ISBN 9780195313055. Published 17 April 2008

The design and evaluation of a computerized adaptive test on mobile devices

Abstract: The use of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) has expanded rapidly over recent years mainly due to the advances in communication and information technology. Availability of advanced mobile technologies provides several benefits to e-learning by creating an additional channel of access with mobile devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. This paper describes the design issues that were considered for the development and the implementation of a CAT on mobile devices, the computerized adaptive test on mobile devices (CAT-MD). Throughout the development of the system, formative evaluation was an integral part of the design methodology. The recommendations, suggestions and the results of the formative evaluation were used to improve the system in order to make the assessment procedure more effective and efficient. These results of the formative evaluation are also presented here.

Open Mobile Online Reservation and Ordering Systems

Abstract: The invention relates to a new “mobile and online based ordering and reservation system” by integrating, synchronizing and utilizing the capability of wireless devices, Internet servers, business web sites and service aggregation portals, to automate the mobile and online ordering and reservation processes in real time, and therefore offering a plural of new mobile and online services and applications. More specifically, the Internet server serves as the host to the service aggregation and as the intermediary device between customers and business. It automatically synchronizes all of the service requests and responses. Therefore, this invention takes full advantage of the flexibility, mobility, availability and convenience of the wireless devices, and the reliability, scalability, the huge processing power of the Internet servers, and the great broadband penetration of the computers into businesses and consumers. The unique and novel, mobile and online based ordering and reservation platform and system, for such time sensitive services, provides the mobile phone and Internet users and various types of business owners with comprehensive sets of options, including the mobile phones installed with the open source “Android” software platform developed by the “Open Handheld Alliance (OHA), such as the “gPhone” released by “Google”, to deliver the requests and responses automatically and instantly through means of synchronization between mobile and Internet communications. Based on the open source mobile phone platform and the Internet server infrastructure, an intuitive and easy-to-use mobile phone and online based ordering and reservation management system is uniquely defined in the architecture of the current invention to allow both the business owners and end consumers with real time communications for a plural of mobile and online ordering and reservation services.

Mobile virtual network operator

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a mobile virtual network are disclosed. A mobile virtual network operator is disclosed as an entity that provides a mobile networking service to a user, the mobile networking service being provided using a physical mobile network provided by a third party. The mobile virtual network operator may provide content distribution services, data access services, or messaging services to a user of a mobile device.

The Relationship Between Mobile Service Quality, Perceived Technology Compatibility, and Users' Perceived Playfulness in the Context of Mobile Information and Entertainment Services

Abstract: There is a growing body of research into mobile information and entertainment services in recent years. Using an extended Technology Acceptance Model perspective, this study explored the effect of mobile service quality and its compatibility to mobile technology on users' perceived playfulness toward these services. Mobile Service Quality and Perceived Technology Compatibility were found to influence users' Perceived Playfulness. Furthermore, Perceived Technology Compatibility significantly mediated the relationship between Mobile Service Quality and Perceived Playfulness. This suggests that service attributes need to be aligned with mobile phone functionalities to enhance user's Perceived Playfulness. In addition, Perceived Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Personalization are the three most important service quality aspects that influenced Perceived Playfulness.

Behavior-based mobile content placement on a mobile communication facility

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for receiving a webpage, relevant mobile content, or other mobile information based at least in part on behavioral information related to a mobile communication facility user, and displaying the content or other information to the user's mobile communication facility.

Using pda for undergraduate student incidental vocabulary testing

Abstract: Recent studies have explored English vocabulary learning in environments where students used mobile technologies for prescribed vocabulary learning tasks, or tested designed personalized learning systems to enhance student vocabulary learning for short periods of time in language related courses. Dictionary use via mobile devices has mostly been used for referential purposes. Referential use refers to applications that provide student access to content such as dictionaries, e-books, etc. at places where learning activities occur, taking advantage of the portability and mobility of mobile devices. Research on free student use of mobile devices to foster incidental vocabulary learning in non-English courses remains scant, and no in-depth studies have been carried out to investigate the value of dictionary use on mobile devices for incidental vocabulary learning in higher education. This one-year multiple-case study investigated undergraduate students' dictionary and other uses of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to enhance their incidental vocabulary learning in an English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) university. The research findings show: (a) the students made various uses of the PDA to improve their vocabulary learning, namely, referential, situated, constructive, reflective, explorative and conversing uses, (b) the students adopted integrated uses of the tools on the PDA and the computer for their incidental vocabulary learning, and (c) the integrated use of the PDA and the computer shaped the vocabulary learning activities and vice versa. These research results indicate that PDAs can be used in more flexible, novel and extended ways for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) vocabulary teaching and learning in higher education, taking student needs and contexts into consideration.