What is Mobile?

IntroductionThe term mobile learning (m-learning) refers to the use of mobile and handheld IT devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile telephones, laptops and tablet PC technologies, in teaching and learning.As computers and the internet become essential educational tools, the technologies become more portable, affordable, effective and easy to use. This provides many opportunities for widening participation and access to ICT, and in particular the internet. Mobile devices such as phones and PDAs are much more reasonably priced than desktop computers, and therefore represent a less expensive method of accessing the internet (though the cost of connection can be higher). The introduction of tablet PCs now allows mobile internet access with equal, if not more, functionality than desktop computers.Why use mobile devices for learning?Most mobile devices are useful in education as administration, organisation and teaching aids for practitioners, and also as learning support tools for learners. Here are some of the main benefits:Learners can interact with each other and with the practitioner instead of hiding behind large monitors.It's much easier to accommodate several mobile devices in a classroom than several desktop computers.PDAs or tablets holding notes and e-books are lighter and less bulky than bags full of files, paper and textbooks, or even laptops.Handwriting with the stylus pen is more intuitive than using keyboard and mouse.It's possible to share assignments and work collaboratively; learners and practitioners can e-mail, cut, copy and paste text, pass the device around a group, or 'beam'? the work to each other using the infrared function of a PDA or a wireless network such as Bluetooth.Mobile devices can be used anywhere, anytime, including at home, on the train, in hotels - this is invaluable for work-based training.These devices engage learners - young people who may have lost interest in education - like mobile phones, gadgets and games devices such as Nintendo DS or Playstation Portable.This technology may contribute to combating the digital divide, as this equipment (for example PDAs) is generally cheaper than desktop computers.However, you may also need to consider the following potential disadvantages:Small mobile and PDA screens limit the amount and type of information that can be displayed.There are limited storage capacities for mobiles and PDAs.Batteries have to be charged regularly, and data can be lost if this is not done correctly.They can be much less robust than desktops (although tablet PCs are beginning to tackle this problem).It's difficult to use moving graphics, especially with mobile phones, although 3G and 4G will eventually allow this.It's a fast-moving market, especially for mobile phones, so devices can become out of date very quickly.Bandwidth may degrade with a larger number of users when using wireless networks.Accessibility and m-learningThe size, shape, weight and portability of mobile devices make them particularly effective for users with disabilities. The organiser functions usually included in mobile devices are extremely useful for learners with learning difficulties to help them organise their lives and achieve some independence. PDAs often also incorporate dictionaries and thesauruses, which provide handy reference tools for learners with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. Tablet PCs include text-to-speech and voice recognition as standard tools, which are valuable for users with disabilities or learning difficulties. The devices can also be attached to wheelchairs with the use of small brackets.However, many of the other features are not so user friendly. For instance, the small buttons can be difficult for people with little manual dexterity to manipulate. The stylus pens are often narrow and small, and require accurate use to work correctly. You can purchase attachable keyboards for PDAs, but these are also quite small, and options for switch or mouse access are limited. They can be also be a little flimsy. The small screen sizes of PDAs and mobiles are not ideal, as the display tends to be cramped, which is unhelpful for people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. The restricted functionality of the operating systems used by PDAs also adds to the problems, as users with disabilities need to be able to customise colour, text size and font.ConclusionMobile learning may currently be most useful as a supplement to ICT, online learning and more traditional learning methods, and can do much to enrich the learning experience. It is widely believed that mobile learning could be a huge factor in getting disaffected young adults to engage in learning, where more traditional methods have failed. As mobile phones combine PDA functions with cameras, video and MP3 players, and as tablets combine the portability of PDAs with the functionality of desktops, the world of learning becomes more mobile, more flexible and more exciting.What is Mobile Web?tags -->Whether travelling on business or leisure, you can:Stay in touch by accessing all your Internet-based emailsKeep up-to-date with the latest news and informationMobile phones send and receive radio signals with any number of cell site base stations fitted with microwaveantennas. These sites are usually mounted on a tower, pole or building, located throughout populated areas, then connected to a cabled communication network and switching system. The phones have a low-power transceiver that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell sites, normally not more than 8 to 13 km (approximately 5 to 8 miles) away.When the mobile phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the mobile telephone exchange or switch, with its unique identifiers, and can then be alerted by the mobile switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations, and is able to switch seamlessly between sites. As the user moves around the network, the handoffs are performed to allow the device to switch sites without interrupting the call.Cell sites have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters which broadcast their presence and relay communications between the mobile handsets and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same wireless service provider or to the public telephone network, which includes the networks of other wireless carriers. Many of these sites are camouflaged to blend with existing environments, particularly in scenic areas.The dialogue between the handset and the cell site is a stream of digital data that includes digitized audio (except for the first generation analog networks). The technology that achieves this depends on the system which the mobile phone operater has adopted. The technologies are grouped by generation. The first-generation systems started in 1979 with Japan, are all analog and include AMPS and NMT. Second-generation systems, started in 1991 in Finland, are all digital and include GSM, CDMA and TDMA.The nature of cellular technology renders many phones vulnerable to 'cloning': anytime a cell phone moves out of coverage (for example, in a road tunnel), when the signal is re-established, the phone sends out a 're-connect' signal to the nearest cell-tower, identifying itself and signalling that it is again ready to transmit. With the proper equipment, it's possible to intercept the re-connect signal and encode the data it contains into a 'blank' phone -- in all respects, the 'blank' is then an exact duplicate of the real phone and any calls made on the 'clone' will be charged to the original account.Third-generation (3G) networks, which are still being deployed, began in Japan in 2001. They are all digital, and offer high-speed data access in addition to voice services and include W-CDMA(known also asUMTS ), and CDMA2000 EV-DO. China will launch a third generation technology on the TD-SCDMA standard. Operators use a mix of predesignated frequency bands determined by the network requirements and local regulations.In an effort to limit the potential harm from having a transmitter close to the user's body, the first fixed/mobile cellular phones that had a separate transmitter, vehicle-mounted antenna, and handset (known as car phones and bag phones) were limited to a maximum 3 watts Effective radiated power Modern handheld cellphones which must have the transmission antenna held inches from the user's skull are limited to a maximum transmission power of 0.6 watts ERP. Regardless of the potential biological effects, the reduced transmission range of modern handheld phones limits their usefulness in rural locations as compared to car/bag phones, and handhelds require that cell towers be spaced much closer together to compensate for their lack of transmission power.Some handhelds include an optional auxiliary antenna port on the back of the phone, which allows it to be connected to a large external antenna and a 3 watt cellular booster. Alternately in fringe-reception areas, a cellular repeater may be used, which uses a long distance high-gain dish antenna or yagi antenna to communicate with a cell tower far outside of normal range, and a repeater to rebroadcast on a small short-range local antenna that allows any cellphone within a few meters to function properly.