Mobile Computers, Mobile Computing

Mobile computers are handheld or wearable devices that allow users to access computing resources while away from a fixed location. They typically have a smaller form factor than traditional desktop or laptop computers, and they often have features that make them ideal for use in mobile environments, with ruggedized designs and long battery life. Mobile computing involves interaction between the user and a small, portable computer device that can be used on site or in the field. Modern mobile computers also often feature a raft of features; including camera, barcode scanner, phone and Internet access. This coming together of what have historically been features available on separate devices, is often referred to as Convergence.

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Maxatec launches new brand of rugged IP65 tablet PC

1 Maxatec launches new brand of rugged IP65 tablet PC

Maxatec has launched the new range of tablet PCs from Sewoo The new BluePAD brand from Sewoo brings real differentiation to the marketplace, and is enhanced by Sewoo's reputation for excellent reliability and high performance standards.

'New breed' of intelligent and rugged mobile devices

2 'New breed' of intelligent and rugged mobile devices

Bullitt Mobile, global licensee of Cat phones for Caterpillar Inc, has teamed up with mobile connectivity specialists Tweakker (www.tweakker.com) to launch the first of a new family of intelligent, rugged Android smartphones under the Cat brand.

DAP Technologies unveils rugged tablet PC with 9.7-inch multi-touch display

3 DAP Technologies unveils rugged tablet PC with 9.7-inch multi-touch display

DAP Technologies has launched an enterprise-ready, rugged Windows tablet with 9.7-inch multi-touch display ideal for logistics and transport operations.

The CRF Institute awards the 'Top Employers' certification to Datalogic for fifth consecutive year

4 The CRF Institute awards the 'Top Employers' certification to Datalogic for fifth consecutive year

Datalogic, producer of barcode readers, mobile computers for data collection, and vision systems, has been awarded the "Top Employers" certification for the fifth consecutive year.

DAP Technologies launches MT1010 rugged Windows tablet

5 DAP Technologies launches MT1010 rugged Windows tablet

DAP Technologies has introduced a new rugged Windows tablet. The DAP MT1010 lightweight tablet offers a Windows operating system that integrates into existing networks and a rugged construction built to survive heavy use in challenging environments.

West Berkshire selects Maxatec PDAs for street works inspectors

6 West Berkshire selects Maxatec PDAs for street works inspectors

West Berkshire Council has further mobilised its Street Works Inspection team with Bluebird Pidion BM-170 touchscreen PDAs from Maxatec.

Motion announces next generation of rugged and flexible tablet PC

7 Motion announces next generation of rugged and flexible tablet PC

Motion Computing, the global provider of mobility solutions, has announced the release of the Motion J3600 Tablet PC, the next generation in the J-Series line of tablet PCs.

Handheld launches new version of Algiz XRW rugged notebook with performance improvements

8 Handheld launches new version of Algiz XRW rugged notebook with performance improvements

Handheld Group, the manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, PDAs and smartphones, has announced the launch of the new version of its Algiz XRW rugged notebook.

Lothian and Borders Police selects Maxatec's Tuffscreen PDA screen protection

9 Lothian and Borders Police selects Maxatec's Tuffscreen PDA screen protection

Altrincham, UK 23 January 2013 – Lothian and Borders Police has taken delivery of special screen protectors from Maxatec for the force's entire 2000 Bluebird Pidion BM-170 PDAs

Maxatec launches cost-effective slim line tablet PC

10 Maxatec launches cost-effective slim line tablet PC

Maxatec has launched an IP65-rated Windows tablet PC, suitable for harsh and uncompromising mobile and remote worker environments.

Mobile Computers

Mobile computers are used in a variety of industries, including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. They are used for tasks such as inventory management, barcode scanning, data entry, and customer service.

Some of the most common types of mobile computers include:

  • Handheld computers are small, portable devices that are typically held in one hand. They have a touchscreen display, a keyboard, and a barcode scanner. Handheld computers are often used in retail and logistics applications.
  • Tablet computers are larger than handheld computers, but they are still portable enough to be used in mobile environments. They have a touchscreen display, a keyboard, and a variety of other features, such as cameras, GPS, and cellular connectivity. Tablet computers are often used in healthcare, education, and government applications.
  • Wearable computers are devices that are worn on the body. They can be in the form of watches, glasses, or headsets. Wearable computers often have features that allow users to interact with their surroundings, such as gesture recognition and voice control. Wearable computers are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers.

Mobile computers offer a number of advantages over traditional desktop or laptop computers, including:

  • Portability: Mobile computers are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around.
  • Wireless connectivity: Mobile computers typically have wireless connectivity, which allows users to access data and applications from anywhere.
  • Durability: Mobile computers are often ruggedized, making them resistant to damage from bumps, drops, and dust.

However, mobile computers also have some disadvantages, including:

  • Smaller screens: The screens on mobile computers are typically smaller than the screens on desktop or laptop computers, which can make it difficult to view data and applications.
  • Limited battery life: Mobile computers typically have shorter battery life than desktop or laptop computers.
  • Security risks: Mobile computers are more susceptible to security risks than desktop or laptop computers, as they are often connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

Mobile computing

Today with the proliferation of a new generation of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and PDAs, the emphasis is increasingly shifting to mobile and multi-device user experience, mobile social computing, next generation mobile solutions, mobile cloud services and infrastructure. Mobile computing is typically characterised by its portability, meaning that users can take their devices with them and use them in different locations.

Mobile computing has three aspects: mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software. The first aspect addresses communication issues in ad-hoc and infrastructure networks as well as communication properties, protocols, data formats and concrete technologies. The second aspect is on the hardware, e.g., mobile devices or device components. The third aspect deals with the characteristics and requirements of mobile applications.

Key features of mobile computing:

  • Portability: Mobile devices are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around. This allows users to access computing resources from anywhere.
  • Connectivity: Mobile devices typically have wireless networking capabilities, which allows them to connect to the internet or other networks. This provides users with access to a wide range of resources, such as web pages, email, and applications.
  • Ubiquity: Mobile devices are now ubiquitous, meaning that they are widely available and used by people of all ages. This has led to the development of a wide range of mobile applications that cater to different needs and interests.

Applications of mobile computing:

  • Web or Internet access: Mobile devices can be used to access the internet, which allows users to browse web pages, check email, and use online applications.
  • Global Position System (GPS): Mobile devices can use GPS to determine their location, which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as navigation, tracking, and emergency services.
  • Emergency services: Mobile devices can be used to call for emergency services, such as the police or fire department.
  • Entertainment services: Mobile devices can be used to play games, watch videos, and listen to music.
  • Educational services: Mobile devices can be used to access educational resources, such as textbooks, online courses, and apps.

Rugged Mobile devices and PDAs are used in field service and workforce management applications. They are particularly useful for field service engineers recording work in the field, communicating information back to an office environment -sending and receiving invoices, ordering parts. They are commonly used in parcel delivery with couriers using these devices to scan barcodes and record signatures as proof of delivery.

Innovations in wireless technology, energy-efficient portable hardware and adaptive software, has enabled a massive growth in the use of these devises for businesses across the enterprise or for personal and social use. These devices are now so versatile that employees are using smartphones for business applications (BYOD –Bring Your Own Device)

This phrase has become widely adopted to refer to employees who bring their own computing devices – such as smartphones, laptops and PDAs – to the workplace for use and connectivity on the corporate network.

BYOD Security - Employees using personal smartphones and mobile devices at work, pose a security risk. Many corporations that allow employees to use their own mobile devices at work implement a BYOD security policy that clearly outlines the company's position and governance policy to ensure network security is not compromised by employees using their own devices at work.

Email and Web access is a reality that is experienced by millions of users worldwide through their smartphones and tablets. Hot spot access points for Wi-Fi connection are becoming more prevalent and widespread, even in London`s underground network.

Cloud computing is evolving as a new paradigm of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. The confluence of hardware virtualization, cloud and mobile computing drives the new era of mobile cloud computing. Platforms such as android, iOS, Windows 7 erodes the power of computing platforms like Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS and is creating cross platform app centric environment in which end-users and in particular the consumer marketplace will drive developments in business computing. There are endless possibilities that can be brought about with the mobile cloud in the near future.

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