Showing papers on "Mobile technology published in 2014"

Introduction to the Special Issue Information Technology in Retail: Toward Omnichannel Retailing

Abstract: The increased deployment of new technologies such as smart mobile devices and social networks and the growing importance of in-store technological solutions create new opportunities and challenges for retailers. As the line between online and physical channels is blurred, a new approach to channel integration is emerging—the omnichannel, which aims to deliver a seamless customer experience regardless of the channel. This introduction presents the results of focus group discussions on the role of information technology in retail, new business models, and the future role of traditional stores as e-commerce advances. Key issues that emerged from the discussion include the need for channel integration, the impact of mobile technologies, the growing role of social media, the changing role of physical brick-and-mortar stores, the need to respond to diverse customer requirements, the balance between personalization and privacy, and, finally, supply chain redesign. The four papers in this Special Issue explore th...

Communicating While Computing: Distributed mobile cloud computing over 5G heterogeneous networks

Abstract: Current estimates of mobile data traffic in the years to come foresee a 1,000 increase of mobile data traffic in 2020 with respect to 2010, or, equivalently, a doubling of mobile data traffic every year. This unprecedented growth demands a significant increase of wireless network capacity. Even if the current evolution of fourth-generation (4G) systems and, in particular, the advancements of the long-term evolution (LTE) standardization process foresees a significant capacity improvement with respect to third-generation (3G) systems, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has established a roadmap toward the fifth-generation (5G) system, with the aim of deploying a commercial system by the year 2020 [1]. The European Project named ?Mobile and Wireless Communications Enablers for the 2020 Information Society? (METIS), launched in 2012, represents one of the first international and large-scale research projects on fifth generation (5G) [2]. In parallel with this unparalleled growth of data traffic, our everyday life experience shows an increasing habit to run a plethora of applications specifically devised for mobile devices, (smartphones, tablets, laptops)for entertainment, health care, business, social networking, traveling, news, etc. However, the spectacular growth in wireless traffic generated by this lifestyle is not matched with a parallel improvement on mobile handsets? batteries, whose lifetime is not improving at the same pace [3]. This determines a widening gap between the energy required to run sophisticated applications and the energy available on the mobile handset. A possible way to overcome this obstacle is to enable the mobile devices, whenever possible and convenient, to offload their most energy-consuming tasks to nearby fixed servers. This strategy has been studied for a long time and is reported in the literature under different names, such as cyberforaging [4] or computation offloading [5], [6]. In recent years, a strong impulse to computation offloading has come through cloud computing (CC), which enables the users to utilize resources on demand. The resources made available by a cloud service provider are: 1) infrastructures, such as network devices, storage, servers, etc., 2) platforms, such as operating systems, offering an integrated environment for developing and testing custom applications, and 3) software, in the form of application programs. These three kinds of services are labeled, respectively, as infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and software as a service. In particular, one of the key features of CC is virtualization, which makes it possible to run multiple operating systems and multiple applications over the same machine (or set of machines), while guaranteeing isolation and protection of the programs and their data. Through virtualization, the number of virtual machines (VMs) can scale on ?demand, thus improving the overall system computational efficiency. Mobile CC (MCC) is a specific case of CC where the user accesses the cloud services through a mobile handset [5]. The major limitations of today?s MCC are the energy consumption associated to the radio access and the latency experienced in reaching the cloud provider through a wide area network (WAN). Mobile users located at the edge of macrocellular networks are particularly disadvantaged in terms of power consumption and, furthermore, it is very difficult to control latency over a WAN. As pointed out in [7]?[9], humans are acutely sensitive to delay and jitter: as latency increases, interactive response suffers. Since the interaction times foreseen in 5G systems, in particular in the so-called tactile Internet [10], are quite small (in the order of milliseconds), a strict latency control must be somehow incorporated in near future MCC. Meeting this constraint requires a deep ?rethinking of the overall service chain, from the physical layer up to virtualization.

Cloud technologies for flexible 5G radio access networks

Abstract: The evolution toward 5G mobile networks will be characterized by an increasing number of wireless devices, increasing device and service complexity, and the requirement to access mobile services ubiquitously. Two key enablers will allow the realization of the vision of 5G: very dense deployments and centralized processing. This article discusses the challenges and requirements in the design of 5G mobile networks based on these two key enablers. It discusses how cloud technologies and flexible functionality assignment in radio access networks enable network densification and centralized operation of the radio access network over heterogeneous backhaul networks. The article describes the fundamental concepts, shows how to evolve the 3GPP LTE architecture, and outlines the expected benefits.

5G wireless access: requirements and realization

Abstract: 5G, the mobile communication technology for beyond 2020, will provide access to information and the sharing of data anywhere and anytime for anyone and anything. This paper describes the current status of the processes moving toward 5G, or "IMT for 2020 and beyond," in ITU-R. We also provide a view of 5G opportunities, challenges, requirements and technical solutions.

Mobile security technology

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes determining a location of a mobile computing device using one or more of a plurality of data sources; communicating, by the mobile computing device, with another computing device as part of a two-way video chat session over a first network connection, the communicating including transmitting the location of the mobile computing device; displaying, as part of the two-way video chat session, real-time video from the other computing device; recording video using one or more cameras that are accessible to the mobile computing device; and transmitting, over a second network connection, the video to a remote storage system for persistent storage.

Learning in a Mobile Age: An Investigation of Student Motivation.

Abstract: The purpose of this single-case study was to explore the lived experiences of a grade 6 teacher and students who used tablets as part of their classroom instruction. Malone and Lepper's taxonomy of intrinsic motivations for learning is used as a framework for examining whether and how this particular theory of motivation applies equally well for mobile learning. This study reports on the grade 6 teacher's and students' perceptions regarding the motivational affordances of using these mobile devices for learning. The findings are consistent with those of Malone and Lepper that motivation can be enhanced through challenge, curiosity, control, recognition, competition and cooperation. This model is helpful in informing our understanding of the motivating features of using mobile devices for learning and how mobile technologies can be used to enhance learners' motivation.

An architecture for software defined wireless networking

Abstract: Software defined networking, characterized by a clear separation of the control and data planes, is being adopted as a novel paradigm for wired networking With SDN, network operators can run their infrastructure more efficiently, supporting faster deployment of new services while enabling key features such as virtualization In this article, we adopt an SDN-like approach applied to wireless mobile networks that will not only benefit from the same features as in the wired case, but will also leverage on the distinct features of mobile deployments to push improvements even further We illustrate with a number of representative use cases the benefits of the adoption of the proposed architecture, which is detailed in terms of modules, interfaces, and high-level signaling We also review the ongoing standardization efforts, and discuss the potential advantages and weaknesses, and the need for a coordinated approach

Assessing the impact of mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries--what has been shown to work?

Abstract: Background : Low-cost mobile devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and personal digital assistants, which can access voice and data services, have revolutionised access to information and communication technology worldwide. These devices have a major impact on many aspects of people's lives, from business and education to health. This paper reviews the current evidence on the specific impacts of mobile technologies on tangible health outcomes (mHealth) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), from the perspectives of various stakeholders. Design : Comprehensive literature searches were undertaken using key medical subject heading search terms on PubMed, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources. Analysis of 676 publications retrieved from the search was undertaken based on key inclusion criteria, resulting in a set of 76 papers for detailed review. The impacts of mHealth interventions reported in these papers were categorised into common mHealth applications. Results : There is a growing evidence base for the efficacy of mHealth interventions in LMICs, particularly in improving treatment adherence, appointment compliance, data gathering, and developing support networks for health workers. However, the quantity and quality of the evidence is still limited in many respects. Conclusions : Over all application areas, there remains a need to take small pilot studies to full scale, enabling more rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental studies to be undertaken in order to strengthen the evidence base. Keywords : mHealth; low- and middle-income countries; health systems; interventions; mobile data (Published: 27 October 2014) Citation : Glob Health Action 2014, 7 : 25606 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.25606

mHealth 2.0: Experiences, Possibilities, and Perspectives

Abstract: With more than 1 billion users having access to mobile broadband Internet and a rapidly growing mobile app market, all stakeholders involved have high hopes that this technology may improve health care. Expectations range from overcoming structural barriers to access in low-income countries to more effective, interactive treatment of chronic conditions. Before medical health practice supported by mobile devices ("mHealth") can scale up, a number of challenges need to be adequately addressed. From a psychological perspective, high attrition rates, digital divide of society, and intellectual capabilities of the users are key issues when implementing such technologies. Furthermore, apps addressing behavior change often lack a comprehensive concept, which is essential for an ongoing impact. From a clinical point of view, there is insufficient evidence to allow scaling up of mHealth interventions. In addition, new concepts are required to assess the efficacy and efficiency of interventions. Regarding technology interoperability, open standards and low-energy wireless protocols appear to be vital for successful implementation. There is an ongoing discussion in how far health care-related apps require a conformity assessment and how to best communicate quality standards to consumers. "Apps Peer-Review" and standard reporting via an "App synopsis" appear to be promising approaches to increase transparency for end users. With respect to development, more emphasis must be placed on context analysis to identify what generic functions of mobile information technology best meet the needs of stakeholders involved. Hence, interdisciplinary alliances and collaborative strategies are vital to achieve sustainable growth for "mHealth 2.0," the next generation mobile technology to support patient care.

Benefits and Impact of Cloud Computing on 5G Signal Processing: Flexible centralization through cloud-RAN

Abstract: Cloud computing draws significant attention in the information technology (IT) community as it provides ubiquitous on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources with minimum management effort. It gains also more impact on the communication technology (CT) community and is currently discussed as an enabler for flexible, cost-efficient and more powerful mobile network implementations. Although centralized baseband pools are already investigated for the radio access network (RAN) to allow for efficient resource usage and advanced multicell algorithms, these technologies still require dedicated hardware and do not offer the same characteristics as cloud-computing platforms, i.e., on-demand provisioning, virtualization, resource pooling, elasticity, service metering, and multitenancy. However, these properties of cloud computing are key enablers for future mobile communication systems characterized by an ultradense deployment of radio access points (RAPs) leading to severe multicell interference in combination with a significant increase of the number of access nodes and huge fluctuations of the rate requirements over time. In this article, we will explore the benefits that cloud computing offers for fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks and investigate the implications on the signal processing algorithms.

From participatory sensing to Mobile Crowd Sensing

Abstract: The research on the efforts of combining human and machine intelligence has a long history. With the development of mobile sensing and mobile Internet techniques, a new sensing paradigm called Mobile Crowd Sensing (MCS), which leverages the power of citizens for large-scale sensing has become popular in recent years. As an evolution of participatory sensing, MCS has two unique features: (1) it involves both implicit and explicit participation; (2) MCS collects data from two user-participant data sources: mobile social networks and mobile sensing. This paper presents the literary history of MCS and its unique issues. A reference framework for MCS systems is also proposed. We further clarify the potential fusion of human and machine intelligence in MCS. Finally, we discuss the future research trends as well as our efforts to MCS.

Mobile devices in medicine: a survey of how medical students, residents, and faculty use smartphones and other mobile devices to find information*

Abstract: Objectives The research investigated the extent to which students, residents, and faculty members in Canadian medical faculties use mobile devices, such as smartphones (e.g., iPhone, Android, Blackberry) and tablet computers (e.g., iPad), to answer clinical questions and find medical information. The results of this study will inform how health libraries can effectively support mobile technology and collections. Methods An electronic survey was distributed by medical librarians at four Canadian universities to medical students, residents, and faculty members via departmental email discussion lists, personal contacts, and relevant websites. It investigated the types of information sought, facilitators to mobile device use in medical information seeking, barriers to access, support needs, familiarity with institutionally licensed resources, and most frequently used resources. Results The survey of 1,210 respondents indicated widespread use of smartphones and tablets in clinical settings in 4 Canadian universities. Third- and fourth-year undergraduate students (i.e., those in their clinical clerkships) and medical residents, compared to other graduate students and faculty, used their mobile devices more often, used them for a broader range of activities, and purchased more resources for their devices. Conclusions Technological and intellectual barriers do not seem to prevent medical trainees and faculty from regularly using mobile devices for their medical information searches; however, barriers to access and lack of awareness might keep them from using reliable, library-licensed resources. Implications Libraries should focus on providing access to a smaller number of highly used mobile resources instead of a huge collection until library-licensed mobile resources have streamlined authentication processes.

Mobile Targeting

Abstract: Mobile technologies enable marketers to target consumers by time and location. This study builds on a large-scale randomized experiment of short message service SMS texts sent to 12,265 mobile users. We draw on contextual marketing theory to hypothesize how different combinations of mobile targeting determine consumer responses to mobile promotions. We identify that temporal targeting and geographical targeting individually increase sales purchases. Surprisingly, the sales effects of employing these two strategies simultaneously are not straightforward. When targeting proximal mobile users, our findings reveal a negative sales--lead time relationship; sending same-day mobile promotions yields an increase in the odds of consumer purchases compared with sending them two days prior to the promoted event. However, when targeting nonproximal mobile users, there is an inverted-U, curvilinear relationship. Sending one-day prior SMSs yields an increase in the odds of consumer purchases by 9.5 times compared with same-day SMSs and an increase in the odds of consumer purchases by 71% compared with two-day prior SMSs. These results are robust to unobserved heterogeneity, alternative estimation models, bootstrapped resamples, randomization checks, consumer mobile usage behavior, and segmentation of consumer scenarios. In addition, we conducted follow-up surveys to delve into the psychological mechanisms explaining the findings in our field experiment. In line with consumer construal arguments, consumers who received SMSs close far in time and location formed a more less concrete mental construal, which in turn, increased their involvement and purchase intent. These findings suggest that understanding the when, where, and how of mobile targeting strategies is crucial. Marketers can save money by carefully designing their mobile targeting campaigns. This paper was accepted by Sandra Slaughter, information systems.

Applications, impacts and trends of mobile technology-enhanced learning: a review of 2008-2012 publications in selected SSCI journals

Abstract: The use of mobile technologies in learning has attracted much attention from researchers and educators in the past decade. However, the impacts of mobile learning on students' learning performance are still unclear. In particular, some schoolteachers still doubt the effectiveness of using such new technologies in school settings. In this study, a survey has been conducted by reviewing the 2008-2012 publications in seven well-recognised Social Science Citation Index SSCI journals of technology-enhanced learning to investigate the applications and impacts of mobile technology-enhanced learning. It is found that mobile learning is promising in improving students' learning achievements, motivations and interests. In addition, from the survey, it is found that smartphones and tablet PCs have gradually become widely adopted mobile learning devices in recent years, which could affect the adoption of sensing technologies in the future. Accordingly, several open issues of mobile learning are addressed.

What is the future of mobile learning in education

Abstract: The evolution of wireless technologies and the development of applications for mobile devices in higher education have been spectacular. For many educators, mobile technology in the field of teaching and learning has recently become one of the most important areas of research. Today, mobile learning is a strategic topic for many organizations concerned with education. In the future, more research should be conducted to transform education using mobile learning. The advent of new types of devices is disruptive to education, no matter what educators and education institutions do. Therefore, a thorough analysis, from a pedagogical and technological perspective, is key to ensuring appropriate usage and implementation of mobile learning. This Special Section of RUSC. Universities and Knowledge Society Journal presents a general overview of successful mobile learning experiences in higher education. Its aim is to share best practices and create new opportunities in universities. These mobile applications will add another layer to the learning and teaching processes.

MALL: The Pedagogical Challenges

Abstract: In this paper the development of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) over the past 20 years is reviewed with a particular focus on the pedagogical challenges facing its exploitation. Following a consideration of the definition of mobile learning, the paper describes the dominant mobile technologies upon which MALL applications have been based: MP3 players, personal digital assistants, and mobile phones. It then identifies the prevalent methodological approach that has underlain the great majority of MALL implementations: a behaviorist, teacher-centered, transmission model of instruction. However, though rarely implemented, MALL is equally capable of supporting more innovative constructivist, collaborative, learner-centered instruction, examples of which are examined. Besides being restricted by a pedagogical approach very much out of step with methodologies that have guided foreign language teaching for nearly four decades, MALL has also been constrained by access to technology. In part, this problem...

Smartphone technology can be transformative to the deployment of lab-on-chip diagnostics

Abstract: The rapid expansion of mobile technology is transforming the biomedical landscape. By 2016 there will be 260 M active smartphones in the US and millions of health accessories and software “apps” running off them. In parallel with this have come major technical achievements in lab-on-a-chip technology leading to incredible new biochemical sensors and molecular diagnostic devices. Despite these advancements, the uptake of lab-on-a-chip technologies at the consumer level has been somewhat limited. We believe that the widespread availability of smartphone technology and the capabilities they offer in terms of computation, communication, social networking, and imaging will be transformative to the deployment of lab-on-a-chip type technology both in the developed and developing world. In this paper we outline why we believe this is the case, the new business models that may emerge, and detail some specific application areas in which this synergy will have long term impact, namely: nutrition monitoring and disease diagnostics in limited resource settings.

Factors Impacting Teachers' Adoption of Mobile Learning.

Abstract: As mobile technology has advanced, awareness is growing that these technologies may benefit teaching and learning. However, despite this interest, the factors that will determine the acceptance of mobile technology by lecturers have been limited. This study proposed and tested a new model that extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) with three new variables: digital literacy, ICT anxiety, and ICT teaching self-efficacy. The TAM models the adoption of new technology based on measuring a users’ beliefs and attitudes to the technology. In particular, the TAM states that two factors influence a user’s use and perception of new technology. The first factor, perceived usefulness, is the degree to which a person believes that a particular technology will be beneficial to their lives. The second factor, perceived ease of use, is the measure of the degree an individual believes a particular technology is free from effort. Research has shown that a large portion of lecturers still resists the integration of technology into the classroom. Two aspects, in particular, have been consistently found to impact lecturers’ adoption of technology. The first aspect shown to influence the adoption of new technology is the beliefs held by the lecturers. Specifically, it is the perceived value of the new technology (perceived usefulness) and perceived effort needed to learn to use the new technology (perceived ease of use) that have been established as playing a major role in the adoption of technology. The second major aspect seen to influence adoption is the skill of lecturers to use digital technology (referred to as digital literacy) and the skill needed to integrate it into their teaching (teaching self-efficacy). The new model that was proposed and tested measured the impact of digital literacy, ICT anxiety, and ICT teaching self-efficacy, along with the well established factors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, on lecturer’ acceptance of mobile learning. A survey was used to measure the major variables in this study. The research found that perceived usefulness, ease of use, digital literacy, anxiety, and teaching self-efficacy were critical factors in lecturers’ behavioral intentions to use mobile learning. The results of this study indicated the importance of these factors in the acceptance of mobile learning. From this model, educationalists are able to identify and develop strategies to support the successful introduction of mobile technology with in educational setting. This research has added to and clarified the existing literature into mobile learning. In particular, it recognizes the role that lecturers play in the future acceptance of mobile learning. It shows that the factors that influence lecturers’ adoption of mobile learning may differ from those of their students. It therefore highlights that these factors need to be considered when implementing mobile technology into the teaching environment. • Journal of Information Technology Education: Research Volume 13, 2014 Material published as part of this publication, either on-line or in print, is copyrighted by the Informing Science Institute. Permission to make digital or paper copy of part or all of these works for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage AND that copies 1) bear this notice in full and 2) give the full citation on the first page. It is per- missible to abstract these works so long as credit is given. To copy in all other cases or to republish or to post on a server or to redistribute to lists requires specific permission and payment of a fee. Contact Publisher@InformingScience.org to request redistribution permission.

Learning by supplying

Abstract: Outsourcing in many industries has advanced beyond simple component supply to encompass manufacturing of entire products, often by suppliers in emerging economies. Understanding the evolving role and capabilities of suppliers in global supply chains is thus a pressing strategic issue for suppliers and customers alike. We analyze a novel panel dataset of supply relationships in the mobile telecommunications industry to answer the following questions: What factors contribute to a supplier's ability to build technological and market capabilities? Does it matter to whom the firm supplies? Is involvement in product design important, or is manufacturing the key to learning? Do the same types of relationships that support technological innovation also facilitate successful introduction of own-brand products, or does this require a different �locus� of learning?

The Emerging Mobile Internet Underclass: A Critique of Mobile Internet Access

Abstract: This article provides a critical comparative analysis of mobile versus personal computer (PC)-based forms of Internet access. Drawing from an interdisciplinary body of literature, it illustrates a wide range of ways in which mobile Internet access offers lower levels of functionality and content availability; operates on less open and flexible platforms; and contributes to diminished levels of user engagement, content creation, and information seeking. At a time when a growing proportion of the online population is “mobile only,” these disparities have created what is termed here a mobile Internet underclass. The implications of this argument for digital divide policymaking and, more broadly, for the evolutionary trajectory of the Internet and the dynamics of Internet usage are discussed.

Can Mobile Cloudlets Support Mobile Applications

Abstract: A mobile cloudlet is a set of resource-rich mobile devices—referred to as cloudlet nodes—that an initiator mobile device can connect to for services. In this paper, we examine the fundamental mobile cloudlet properties that unfoldwhether and when a mobile cloudlet can provide mobile application ser- vice. Specifically, we investigate thecloudlet size,cloudlet node's lifetime and reachable time. Traces and mathematical analysis demonstrate that 1) the more frequently mobile devices meet, the larger the pool of computing resources an initiator can access; 2) intermittent connection between devices has little adverse effect on the optimal computing performance of mobile cloudlet in the long run; 3) the ratio E(TC)/(E(TI) + E(TC)) indicates the connection likelihood of an initiator and a cloudlet node (i.e., reachability of the cloudlet node), where TC and TI are their contact and inter-contact time. We further derive upper and lower bounds on computing capacity and computing speed of a mobile cloudlet. An initiator can use both bounds to decide whether to offload its task to remote clouds or local mobile cloudlets for better mobile application services.

Mobile learning and integration of mobile technologies in education

Abstract: Mobile technologies have a huge potential to transform education provided these technologies are designed and implemented in such a way that they are relevant to the social and cultural context of learning Clearly, the application, implementation, and design of mobile technology in the global educational context pose technological and socio-cultural challenges Specifically, technology tools and applications that are familiar in developed nations may pose unique challenges in developing countries, so `one size fits all' or `one technology for all contexts' does not practically work Therefore, the authors provide case studies focusing on the pedagogical benefits of mobile technologies when used as educational tools Ideally, this article is intended to stimulate reflections on the subject of m-learning as well as the integration of mobile technologies in education

Map-based Mobile Services: Theories, Methods and Implementations

Abstract: The development of wireless telecommunication and ubiquitous computing te- nologies has led to a growing mobile population and dramatically changed p- terns of working and everyday life A smooth and safe mobility is only possible when the mobile person is well-informed of the happenings in his ambient en- ronments Location-sensitive maps have proved a strong enhancement to what a mobile user can directly perceive from his ambient environments Since ancient times the map has been the favorite communication language of spatial infor- tion It is even more the case for mobile applications where brand-new maps can be wirelessly retrieved or generated in real-time The upsurge of map-based s- vices on mobile devices has raised a number of new questions challenging the conventional computer-assisted cartography Map-based mobile services provides a contemporary overview of research and development issues related to the design and the use of mobility-supporting maps The book has been written for professional cartographers who are striving for - tending their theoretical, methodological and practical knowledge to mobile m- making, for surveyors and geo-service providers involved in the development of intelligent location-based services, for software developers and cognitive scientists engaged in human-computer interaction, and for students and academics in cart- raphy and geoinformation sciences The book was initiated by the multidisciplinary workshop Design of m- based mobile services within the frame of the conference Human and Computer 2003 Interaction on the movement held in Stuttgart, Germany, September 2003

Novel Cloud and SOA-Based Framework for E-Health Monitoring Using Wireless Biosensors

Abstract: Various and independent studies are showing that an exponential increase of chronic diseases (CDs) is exhausting governmental and private healthcare systems to an extent that some countries allocate half of their budget to healthcare systems. To benefit from the IT development, e-health monitoring and prevention approaches revealed to be among top promising solutions. In fact, well-implemented monitoring and prevention schemes have reported a decent reduction of CDs risk and have narrowed their effects, on both patients' health conditions and on government budget spent on healthcare. In this paper, we propose a framework to collect patients' data in real time, perform appropriate nonintrusive monitoring, and propose medical and/or life style engagements, whenever needed and appropriate. The framework, which relies on service-oriented architecture (SOA) and the Cloud, allows a seamless integration of different technologies, applications, and services. It also integrates mobile technologies to smoothly collect and communicate vital data from a patient's wearable biosensors while considering the mobile devices' limited capabilities and power drainage in addition to intermittent network disconnections. Then, data are stored in the Cloud and made available via SOA to allow easy access by physicians, paramedics, or any other authorized entity. A case study has been developed to evaluate the usability of the framework, and the preliminary results that have been analyzed are showing very promising results.

Understanding LTE with MATLAB: From Mathematical Modeling to Simulation and Prototyping

Abstract: An introduction to technical details related to the Physical Layer of the LTE standard with MATLABThe LTE (Long Term Evolution) and LTE-Advanced are among the latest mobile communications standards, designed to realize the dream of a truly global, fast, all-IP-based, secure broadband mobile access technology. This book examines the Physical Layer (PHY) of the LTE standards by incorporating three conceptual elements: an overview of the theory behind key enabling technologies; a concise discussion regarding standard specifications; and the MATLAB algorithms needed to simulate the standard. The use of MATLAB, a widely used technical computing language, is one of the distinguishing features of this book. Through a series of MATLAB programs, the author explores each of the enabling technologies, pedagogically synthesizes an LTE PHY system model, and evaluates system performance at each stage. Following this step-by-step process, readers will achieve deeper understanding of LTE concepts and specifications through simulations. Key Features: Accessible, intuitive, and progressive; one of the few books to focus primarily on the modeling, simulation, and implementation of the LTE PHY standard Includes case studies and testbenches in MATLAB, which build knowledge gradually and incrementally until a functional specification for the LTE PHY is attained Accompanying Web site includes all MATLAB programs, together with PowerPoint slides and other illustrative examples Dr Houman Zarrinkoub has served as a development manager and now as a senior product manager with MathWorks, based in Massachusetts, USA. Within his 12 years at MathWorks, he has been responsible for multiple signal processing and communications software tools. Prior to MathWorks, he was a research scientist in the Wireless Group at Nortel Networks, where he contributed to multiple standardization projects for 3G mobile technologies. He has been awarded multiple patents on topics related to computer simulations. He holds a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University and MSc and PhD degrees in Telecommunications from the Institut Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique, in Canada.www.wiley.com/go/zarrinkoub

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Exploratory Learning, Mobile Technology, and Knowledge Workers’ Role Integration Behaviors

Abstract: Role integration is the new workplace reality for many employees. The prevalence of mobile technologies (e.g., laptops, smartphones, tablets) that are increasingly wearable and nearly always “on” m...

Proximity and context aware mobile workspaces in enterprise systems

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring computing devices using mobile workspace contexts based on proximity to locations are described herein. A mobile computing device determines that the device is proximate to a location, another device, or an individual associated with an enterprise system. The mobile computing device may then receive a mobile workspace context associated with the location, device, or individual, such as one or more specific wireless networks, enterprise applications, and/or documents, and may configure the device based on the received mobile workspace context. Additional methods and systems are described herein for transmitting and receiving sets of device capabilities between multiple devices, establishing communication sessions, and sharing various capabilities between devices. Still additional methods and systems are described for determining and accessing the capabilities of enterprise system resources using mobile computing devices in an enterprise system.

Investigating students' behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile learning in higher education in East Africa

Abstract: Recent penetration of mobile technologies and its services in East Africa has provided a new platform for institutions to widen access to education through mobile learning. Mobile technologies provide learners with flexibility and ubiquity to learn anytime and anywhere via wireless Internet. However, far too little research has been conducted to investigate factors that contribute towards students' adoption and use of mobile learning in East Africa. We applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to investigate students’ behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile learning in higher education in East Africa. A sample of 823 students selected from five higher learning institutions was collected and tested against the research model using regression analysis. The results showed that, four factors: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions had significant positive effects on students’ mobile learning acceptance with performance expectancy being the strongest predictor. These findings will enable those who are involved in the implementation of mobile learning to develop mobile services that are relevant and acceptable to learners in higher education in East Africa.