Mobile+Computing

**__ By: Ambrish Patel __** Computer Technology has come a long way in the past decade and it continues to grow. It has allowed us to accomplish and do things smarter, faster, cheaper, and more efficient. More specifically, the way we connect to the Internet has jumped leaps and bounds. Long are the days when you had to wait and listen to your computer make those funny sounds as it “dialed up” to connect to the Internet. Now, with the help of wireless technologies we are able to connect to the Internet without any cables on our computer or mobile device. In today’s market there are different types of wireless technology for computer and mobile data transmission that you can choose from. With mobile computing being the focus, this article analysis will cover wireless access point (WAP), Bluetooth, and cellular transmission technology. What is Mobile Computing? Mobile computing has more than one meaning. It is widely defined to describe a person being able to use a computer while physically moving with a cell phone, PDA, or other handheld devices. Some interpretations are specific like having an in-vehicle computer system while other are loose like the ability to transmit data using a computer without physically being connected or simply being able to take your computer where ever you go. Types of mobile computers include, wearable computers such as the ones on watches, personal/enterprise digital devices (PDA/EDAs), computers and of course, the most popular, cell phones or ‘smartphones’. Mobile computing has become very important. It is significant for several reasons because it has replaced many of our traditional daily activities. With mobile computing technology we are now able to do school or job work, connect to the internet, check email, do banking, etc. all on the go and in matters of seconds. Mobile Computing, in many ways has changed the way we live. The most important technologies when referring to mobile computing are those that easily allow the transfer of data. Three major technologies are WAP, Bluetooth and cellular transmission. A wireless access point is a device that allows wireless communication devices to connect to a wireless network. The WAP is normally connected to a wired network that transports the data between other wireless devices on that network. This can include computers, laptops, handheld devices, cell phones, and printers. Bluetooth on the other hand, is a wireless protocol used for transferring data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). It can connect several devices and does not need to be synchronized. Bluetooth is mainly designed for low power consumption, with a short range based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device. These devices use a radio (broadcast) communications system, which enable communication with each other once they are in range. Bluetooth technology allows collaboration between different devices such as the laptops, mobile phones, and automobiles. Lastly, cellular transmission is the technology used in cell phones. More specifically, third generation or 3G technology is the latest mobile communications. It is intended for the true multimedia cell phones called smartphones. Its features include increased bandwidth and transfer rates to accommodate Web-based applications and phone-based audio and video files. 3G phones are like mini-laptops and can accommodate broadband applications. Overall, in the past decade, computer technology has come a very long way. We went from traditional desktops to laptops and now we are literally at a stage where we can carry around a desktop computer right in the palm of our own hands. It’s scary just to imagine, what computer technology will evolve too in the next 10 years.
 * __ MoBile Computing Technology: __**