Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Computing Management Information Systems Robert Monroe November 22, 2009

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Quiz

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Goals For Today By the end of today's class you should be able to: –Identify and explain the major types of wireless networks (wifi, wimax, 3G, Bluetooth) –Identify, and provide examples of, the major mobile device platforms –Apply the Emerging IT Analysis Framework to current and emerging mobile device platforms

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Into The Cloud And Back Out… Image source: Wikipedia Data Processing Data Processing Rich I/O

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Wireless Networking Technologies

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems PANs, LANs, MANs, and WANs Personal Area Networks (PANs) typically connect a few devices located in very close proximity (up to a max of 10 yards or so) Local Area Networks (LANs) typically connect a few to a few thousand computers in an office or campus Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) connect computers in a metropolitan area Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect computers across substantial distances (across states, countries, continents) Any can be used for public or private networks Any can be implemented as wired, wireless, or a hybrid of both

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Wireless Networking Overview Wireless networking is very similar to wired networking with the exception of transmission medium –Wired networks use copper or fiber obtic wires to transmit data –Wireless networks use radios to transmit data We will look briefly at different wireless networks –Bluetooth –WiFi and WiMAX –Mobile phones (3G) –Satellites

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Bluetooth – Wireless Personal Area Networks Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology designed primarily for wirelessly connecting electronic devices in close proximity Maximum range of about 30 feet Very low power consumption and output Standard commonly used for cell phones, computing peripherals, and consumer electronic devices

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems WiFi – Wireless Local Area Networks WiFi (802.11x) supports wireless communication over a few hundred feet Adapters in each wireless device communicate with base stations attached to a LAN or the internet Limited range (<100 meters) good bandwidth (10 to 100 mbps) Ubiquitous and cheap Broad compatibility

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems WiMAX – Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access –Also known as IEEE Many appealing features –Up to a 30 mile radius (fixed) –4-5 mile radius (mobile) –Up to 70 megabits/second WiMAX is an emerging standard – not yet complete –Heavily anticipated –Backed by Intel and others Source: HowStuffWorks.com

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems WiMAX Discussion Questions What types of businesses might want to consider being early adopters of WiMAX? In which types of consumer markets might WiMAX enjoy the most success? Is WiMAX a more interesting technology for developing countries than it is for industrialized countries? Why or why not? What affect is WiMAX likely to have on the internet connectivity market? –The land-line telephone market? –The cell-phone market?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Phones – Wireless Metro Area Networks Like Bluetooth, WiFi, and WiMax, cell phones use radios to transmit (voice) data wirelessly Mobile phone providers have evolved their mobile voice service networks into wireless, long-range broadband data networks for mobile computing devices Long range (1-15 miles) Expensive towers and equipment Medium bandwidth Moderate standardization Source: HowStuffWorks.com

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Satellites – Wireless Wide Area Networks The longest-range option for wireless networking Signals are transmitted from Earth to a satellite, which then sends the signal to another base station on Earth –Generally used to provide fast backbone network support across oceans –Rarely used for individuals or businesses Very expensive

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Analysis: Radio Frequency ID (RFID)

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Quick Review: Six Core Questions What does the technology do? What does the technology not do? What problems does the technology solve? –… and for whom? What problems does the technology create? –… and for whom? What complements the technology? Does the technology require network effects?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems RFID Radio Frequency Identification is a wireless networking technology that uses inexpensive RFID ‘tags’ to identify people and things Tags are generally passive, but when hit with radio waves they return information to a reader When hooked to a network and appropriate information system, the reader can take appropriate action TagReadCompute

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems RFID Analysis: Functionality What RFID technologies doWhat RFID technologies do NOT do

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems RFID Analysis: Problems and Solutions Problems RFID solvesProblems RFID creates / causes

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems RFID Analysis: Complements and Network Effects RFID complementsNeed network effects?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Quick Review: Secondary Questions What substitutes are available to solve the problems? How mature is the technology? What type of community is available to support and grow the technology?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems RFID Adoption: A Long Road RFID has been around for decades –Used for IFF by allies in WW-II –Basic science and theory done first half of 20 th century –First RFID applications started appearing late 70’s Why is RFID still considered an emerging technology? Why has it taken so long to be ubiquitously adopted? –Will it always be ‘the technology of the future’? Are there any general lessons we can draw from RFID about technology adoption?

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Mobile Computing Platforms

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Communication Tools Are Going Mobile

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Computing Platforms Are Going Mobile

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems … And Evolving Into Mobile Computing Devices

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems Beyond The Cloud – Mobile Devices There are many categories of emerging mobile computing devices Stand-alone vs. Wireless Networking General Purpose Special Purpose

Carnegie Mellon University © Robert T. Monroe Management Information Systems For Tuesday Tuesday we will explore new business opportunities that might arise by harvesting data from mobile platforms, as well as social and ethical implications of doing so. A bit more active effort will be required in preparation for Tuesday’s class – minimal reading, plus some research –…details on the wiki