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Mobile Computing Systems Design Issues
Principles of Matching Mobile
Devices and Applications Mobility Requirements
The following factors must be kept in mind
while matching devices and mobile applications to mobile worker's needs
and work habits.
Broad Principles
- Mobile devices must match mobile workers'
field tasks at hand - a broad principle.
- Applications must adapt to different
situations and modes of mobile worker. This means that it must support
offline and on-line, at home and in office.
- Applications should have similar but not
necessarily the same user interface as on the desktop. Mobile
interface should be abbreviated and efficient version of the same with
interruption allowed with a capability of re-starting a transaction where
you left it off.
- Select device suitable for the
application. Do not try to fit complex analytical application on
low-powered handhelds.
- Understand business tradeoffs. Do not look
for perfect device. Solve 80% of the problem, not 100%. Write down
all the criteria, give weights to each factor. Go for the most important
factors.
- Involve users in making device decisions.
Give lower weight to programmer's view and preferences of devices.
Programmers, please do not feel bad - a superb software that is not used
by anyone is not going to get you your next raise.
Specific Principles
- Method of input must be such that it can
accept amount of data in most efficient fashion. Pen-based input is
suitable only for some applications e.g. it is not suitable for police
officer's report writing application which has a lot of narrative.
Unless you can implement the application based on speech-recognition
software, you better have a decent keyboard. Allow for the huge
fingers of hefty police officers.
- Type of screen on the device must be
such that it is suitable for outdoor use if workers are going to use it outdoors most of the time.
- Determine if you need ruggedized
devices. Ruggedized units are more expensive to buy and maintain.
Use ruggedized devices only if the work requirements dictate it.
Most Predominant Application Biasing
Device Selection Criteria
- There is some fundamental validity
in biasing your device selection on the basis of your most
predominant application that occupies a majority of your daily
activity. If all that you really need is an organizer with
occasional access to desktop applications, Palm/OS based devices
may be more appropriate. If, on the other hand, your daily
handheld application is data collection in a hostile outdoor
environment, industry-specific handhelds from Symbol or Intermec
may be more appropriate.
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