Possible Books

CIS*1aaa Mobile Computing

Mobile Computing, 2/e: Technology, Applications and Service Creation

Description:

(From 1st edition)

The user in a mobile computing environment is able to access data from any device in a network while on the move, spread across wired and wireless media. The technology to deliver on this promise now exists, and is one of the key drivers for growth across the telecommunications industry. This book provides a detailed survey of the technologies delivering true mobile computing – on both the service creation and device fronts. This book guides communications professionals and students through the complex web of acronyms, standards that wireless data runs on. It also details hot button security issues and new emerging technologies.

(From 2nd edition)

The revised edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the technology changes from 2005 to 2010. Three new chapters covering Multimedia, IP Multimedia Service (IMS), and Next Generation Networks (NGN) have been added.

Besides these, the book additionally covers: • Mobile Computing Principles and Architecture • Computer Telephony Interface and VoiceXML • Personal Communication System-Architecture–Handoff–Roaming • Mobility Management, GSM, and GPRS networks • Short Message Service (SMS) technology and application creation • IMT 2000–Evolution of 3G & 2G Vs 3G • CDMA 2000 & WCDMA–Protocol Architecture–Physical Channels and Logical Channels • SS7, Telecommunications, and Intelligent Networks • Wireless LAN, WiFi, and WLL (Wireless Local Loop) Architecture • IPsec and VPN (Virtual Private Network) • Bluetooth, RFID, and Satellite Communications System–Infrastructure • Mobile application development environments like J2ME, Symbian, SIM card, etc. • Security issues in Mobile Communications and Mobile Computing environment Packed with illustrations, examples, programs, and questions, Mobile Computing will serve the needs of professionals, teachers and students.“.

Note: Looks to be at the right level although a bit too hardware focused (but it is a large book)

Mobile Computing, 2nd Edition

by Devi Kamal

Description:

The first few chapters present the concepts of mobile computing and mobile communication in equal measure, including 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3G+, and 4G communication systems, mobile satellite communication networks, mobile IP, mobile TCP and digital audio-video broadcasting, and mobile TV. The subsequent chapters provide a systematic explanation of mobile computing as a discipline in itself. The book provides an in-depth coverage of mobile systems and devices, mobile operating systems used for application development, mobile databases, client-server computing agents, application servers, security protocols, mobile Internet, and ad-hoc and sensor networks.

Note: Also a very large book. Possibly at too high a level for 1<supst</sup year, but not focused enough for higher level courses (as currently envisioned

CIS*2aaa Mobile Applications

Build Mobile Websites and Apps for Smart Devices

by Earle Castledine, Myles Eftos, and Max Wheeler

Description:

Build Mobile Websites and Apps for Smart Devices is a practical guide for front-end web designers and developers. You’ll discover a fun and fresh approach to mobile web design and development, with enormous scope for opportunity.

Mobile web development is changing rapidly, with a greater emphasis on modern touch-screen smartphones. By following the advice in this book, you can be sure you’re learning the skills you need to make the most of this new technology.

You’ll learn how to:

And lots more….

Note: Generally good reviews. Seems to be at approximately the right level. However, more of a trade book than a textbook. Also more focused on WebApps than stand-alone mobile apps (this is a common problem)

Mobile Design and Development:
Practical concepts and techniques for creating mobile sites and web apps

by Brian Fling

Description:

Mobile Design and Development by Brian Fling is a start to finish guide for designing and building mobile apps regardless of experience, device or platform. Brian took on the daunting challenge to write the mobile guide missing from bookshelves. As Brian describes it “this is a book that teaches people how to cook, not a collection of recipes.” Since its release the book has been incredibly well received. It has being described as a “must have” by many experts in the mobile community. The 16 chapters, and 85,000 words within the book have helped thousands understand and dive into mobile.

The first half is a crash course in the mobile ecosystem: how to develop a strategy, address the mobile context–even how to decide which of the multiple mobile application types is best for you, and finally, how to create a user experience for it. The second half is focused on using these principles to make a mobile website or web app.

Mobile Design and Development is a comprehensive resource covering all aspects of the mobile ecosystem. The book covers a great number of topics, however each are described in practical and common sense way—making easy for anyone at any technical level to understand the inner working of the mobile medium.

If you're a web designer, web developer, information architect, product manager, usability professional, content publisher, or an entrepreneur new to the mobile, Mobile Design and Development provides you with the knowledge you need to work with this rapidly developing technology..

Note: An O’Reilly “animal” guide. Mixed reviews. Good reviews as a WebApp book, but limited stand-alone mobile apps support.

Mobile Design Pattern Gallery: UI Patterns for Smartphone Apps

by Theresa Neil

Description:

This handy reference provides more than 90 mobile app design patterns, illustrated by 1,000 screenshots from current Android, iOS, and Windows Phone apps.

Much has changed since this book’s first edition. Mobile OSes have become increasingly different, driving their own design conventions and patterns, and many designers have embraced mobile-centric thinking. In this edition, user experience professional Theresa Neil walks product managers, designers, and developers through design patterns in 11 categories:

Note: This is a support book, concentrating on patterns and not app creation in total.

Head First Mobile Web

by Lyza Danger Gardner and Jason Grigsby

Description:

Mobile web usage is exploding. Soon, more web browsing will take place on phones and tablets than PCs. Head First Mobile Web shows how to use the web technology you’re already familiar with to make sites and apps that work on any device of any size. Put your JavaScript, CSS media query, and HTML5 skills to work, and then optimize your site to perform its best in the demanding mobile market. Along the way, you’ll discover how to adapt your business strategy to target specific devices.

Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Mobile Web uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works.

Note: From the popular Head First series. May not use the technologies we want to emphasize; too advanced for the CIS*1aaa course.

CIS*3aaa Pervasive Systems

Ubiquitous Computing Fundamentals

by John Krumm

Description:

Under the guidance of John Krumm, an original ubicomp pioneer, Ubiquitous Computing Fundamentals brings together eleven ubiquitous computing trailblazers who each report on his or her area of expertise. Starting with a historical introduction, the book moves on to summarize a number of self-contained topics. Taking a decidedly human perspective, the book includes discussion on how to observe people in their natural environments and evaluate the critical points where ubiquitous computing technologies can improve their lives. Among a range of topics this book examines:

Note: Not a unified textbook, but a edited book with chapters from various researchers in the field

Ubiquitous Computing: Smart Devices, Environments and Interactions

by Stefan Poslad

Description:

Ubiquitous Computing (also commonly referred to as Pervasive Computing) describes the ways in which current technological models, based upon three base designs: smart (mobile, wireless, service) devices, smart environments (of embedded system devices) and smart interaction (between devices), relate to and support a computing vision for a greater range of computer devices, used in a greater range of (human, ICT and physical) environments and activities. The author details the rich potential of ubiquitous computing, the challenges involved in making it a reality, and the prerequisite technological infrastructure. Additionally, the book discusses the application and convergence of several current major and future computing trends

Key Features:

Note: Designed as a graduate textbook

Smart Things: Ubiquitous Computing User Experience Design

by Mike Kuniavsky

Description:

The world of smart shoes, appliances, and phones is already here, but the practice of user experience (UX) design for ubiquitous computing is still relatively new. Design companies like IDEO and frogdesign are regularly asked to design products that unify software interaction, device design and service design – which are all the key components of ubiquitous computing UX – and practicing designers need a way to tackle practical challenges of design. Theory is not enough for them – luckily the industry is now mature enough to have tried and tested best practices and case studies from the field.

Smart Things presents a problem-solving approach to addressing designers' needs and concentrates on process, rather than technological detail, to keep from being quickly outdated. It pays close attention to the capabilities and limitations of the medium in question and discusses the tradeoffs and challenges of design in a commercial environment. Divided into two sections, frameworks and techniques, the book discusses broad design methods and case studies that reflect key aspects of these approaches. The book then presents a set of techniques highly valuable to a practicing designer. It is intentionally not a comprehensive tutorial of user-centered design, “as that is covered in many other books” but it is a handful of techniques useful when designing ubiquitous computing user experiences.

In short, Smart Things gives its readers both the “why” of this kind of design and the “how,” in well-defined chunks.

Note: Concentrates on UX, which is not the sole focus of the course.

Designing the Internet of Things

by Adrian McEwen and Hakim Cassimally

Description:

Both a creative and practical primer, it explores the platforms you can use to develop hardware or software, discusses design concepts that will make your products eye-catching and appealing, and shows you ways to scale up from a single prototype to mass production.

If you'd like to design for the future, Designing the Internet of Things is a great place to start.

Note: Title is a bit deceiving. Actually a practical design book on ubiquitous computing (which the authors conflate with “the internet of things” as the field expands

Pervasive Systems and Ubiquitous Computing

by A. Genco and S. Sorce

Description:

Pervasive systems are today’s hardware/software solution to Mark Weisers 1991 vision of Ubiquitous Computing, with the aim of enabling everyone to enjoy computer services by means of the surrounding environment. Mainly thanks to low-cost wireless communication technology, pervasive services can be now implemented easily. Local or network advanced applications can be joined everywhere, simply by means of a mobile terminal such as those (cellular, PDA, Smartphone, …) we are already accustomed to carry with us. Pervasive systems aim to free people from conventional interaction with desktop and laptop computers and allow a new human-environment interaction to take place on the basis of wireless multimedia communication. This book has been written mainly for students of Masters level and PhD courses in engineering faculties. The book discusses the fundamentals of pervasive systems theory as they are currently studied and developed in the most relevant research laboratories. The book also includes some examples of pervasive applications, which were implemented by last-year students as a requirement for passing the Grids and Pervasive Systems exam. All the applications take advantage of Bluetooth technology as a free wireless communications medium and are ready to run, even if they are just laboratory products and need to be improved and customized for commercial use.

Note: Graduate level textbook

Pervasive Computing: Concepts, Technologies and Applications

By Guo Minyi, Zhou Jingyu, Tang Feilong, and Shen Yao

Description:

This book introduces fundamental concepts and theories in pervasive computing as well as its key technologies and applications. It explains how to design and implement pervasive middleware and real application systems, covering nearly all aspects related to pervasive computing. Key technologies in the book include pervasive computing-oriented resource management and task migration, mobile pervasive transaction, human computer interface, and context collection-oriented wireless sensor networks.