[PRELIMS] CS409 Mobile Computing

Mobile Computing

A technology that allows transmission of data, voice, and video through a computer or wireless-enabled device without requiring a fixed physical connection.

Mobile Communication

The infrastructure that enables seamless and reliable communication between mobile devices.

Mobile Hardware

Mobile devices or device components that receive or access mobile services.

Mobile Software

The programs that run on mobile hardware and handle the characteristics and requirements of mobile applications.

Portability

The ability to use a computing device or service without being tied to one physical location.

Wireless Communication

Communication in which signals are transmitted through the air rather than through a fixed physical connection.

Radio Waves

The wireless signals used to carry information through the air to intended devices.

Full-Duplex

Communication in which a device can send and receive signals at the same time.

Mobile Device

A portable computer device that can be used while moving.

Mobile Platform

The hardware-software environment used by laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other portable devices.

Mobile Application

A computer program specifically designed to run on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

Mobile App

A computer program designed for a mobile device.

App Distribution Platform

A platform operated by a mobile operating system owner through which applications are distributed.

App Store

A digital distribution platform where users can download applications.

App Discovery

The process of finding applications that meet a user's needs.

App Review

The evaluation of applications to determine their quality, usefulness, and reliability.

App Cataloging

The organization and classification of applications for easier discovery.

Telecommuting

Working from home or another location while accessing resources as if working from an office.

Mobile Technology Generation

A generation of mobile technology characterized by specific frequency bands, data rates, and transmission technologies.

1G

First generation of mobile communication systems introduced around 1981.

2G

Second generation of cellular networks that introduced standards such as GSM.

3G

Third generation mobile technology associated with higher data capabilities than 2G.

4G

Fourth generation mobile technology providing high-speed wireless data communication.

GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications; a standard for protocols used by 2G cellular networks.

EDGE

Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution; an enhancement to GSM that supports data communication.

LTE

Long-Term Evolution; a wireless communication standard designed to increase the capacity and speed of mobile data networks.

4G LTE

The 4G implementation of LTE providing high-speed mobile data communication.

Mobile Broadband

High-speed Internet access delivered through mobile networks.

Mobile Subscription

A subscription allowing a user to access mobile communication services.

Mobile Web Traffic

Web traffic generated by users accessing websites through mobile devices.

Mobile Operating System

The operating system used to manage and operate a mobile device.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

A portable electronic organizer or day planner capable of sharing information with computer systems.

Synchronization

The process of keeping information on two devices updated and consistent.

Stylus

A pen-like input device used with touch-sensitive screens.

Touch-Sensitive Screen

A screen that detects touch as an input method.

Smartphone

A mobile phone combining features of a PDA, phone, camera, computer, and other technologies.

Multitasking

The ability of a smartphone to run multiple programs concurrently.

Mobile Browser

A browser designed or capable of accessing websites on mobile devices.

Wi-Fi

A wireless networking technology used for high-speed data access.

Cellular Broadband

High-speed Internet access provided through cellular networks.

Tablet PC

A mobile computing device larger than a smartphone and operated primarily through a touch screen.

iPad

Apple's tablet device used for mobile computing.

Mobile Computing Advantages

The benefits provided by mobile computing, including flexibility, time savings, productivity, research convenience, entertainment, and business process improvements.

Location Flexibility

The ability to work or perform tasks from different locations.

Enhanced Productivity

The improvement in efficiency and effectiveness resulting from the ability to work from convenient locations.

Ease of Research

The ability to collect, access, and submit information from the field without unnecessary travel.

Streamlining Business Processes

Making business activities more efficient through mobile and secure access to services and information.

Authentication

The process of verifying the identity of a user.

Authorization

The process of determining what an authenticated user is allowed to access or perform.

Video Conferencing

Real-time communication using video between participants in different locations.

Voice Conferencing

Communication through voice between participants in different locations.

Mobile Computing Disadvantages

Potential negative effects of excessive or unsafe mobile device use, including privacy risks, security issues, distraction, and overdependence.

Internet Fraud

Criminal activity involving deception or theft through Internet-based activities.

Personal Information

Data about an individual that could be exposed through unsafe application or Internet use.

JavaScript

A programming language used primarily for creating interactive and dynamic web pages.

Programming Language

A language used to communicate instructions to a machine and express algorithms.

Markup Language

A language used to describe and define elements within a document.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language; a markup language used to structure web documents.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets; a markup/style language used to describe the presentation of web documents.

Script

A JavaScript program written as text and executed by a JavaScript environment.

ECMAScript

The standardized specification underlying JavaScript.

LiveScript

The original name of JavaScript before it was renamed.

JavaScript Engine

A program that executes JavaScript code.

JavaScript Virtual Machine

A JavaScript engine embedded in a browser for executing JavaScript.

V8

The JavaScript engine used by Chrome and Opera.

SpiderMonkey

The JavaScript engine used by Firefox.

Trident

A JavaScript engine associated with versions of Internet Explorer.

Chakra

A JavaScript engine associated with Internet Explorer.

ChakraCore

A JavaScript engine associated with Microsoft Edge.

Nitro

A JavaScript engine associated with Safari.

SquirrelFish

A JavaScript engine associated with Safari.

Parsing

The process of reading and analyzing JavaScript source code.

Compilation

The process of converting JavaScript code into machine language or machine code.

Machine Language

The low-level language executed by the computer.

Optimization

The process of improving generated code so that it runs more efficiently.

In-Browser JavaScript

JavaScript executed within a web browser.

Server-Side JavaScript

JavaScript executed outside the browser, such as through Node.js.

Node.js

A JavaScript runtime environment that allows JavaScript to run outside the browser.

Low-Level Access

Direct access to hardware resources such as memory or CPU.

AJAX

A technology allowing JavaScript to communicate with remote servers and exchange data without necessarily reloading the entire page.

COMET

A web communication technique involving server-to-client communication.

Local Storage

A browser mechanism for storing data on the client side.

Cookie

A small piece of data stored by a website in the user's browser.

Same Origin Policy

A browser security rule that restricts scripts from accessing resources from different origins without permission.

Origin

A combination of domain, protocol, and port used to determine whether two web resources belong to the same security context.

Cross-Origin Communication

Communication between resources from different origins, generally requiring explicit permission.

HTTP Header

Information included in HTTP requests or responses that can be used to control or communicate web behavior.

Browser Permission

Explicit authorization given by a user allowing a webpage to access certain device capabilities.

JavaScript Safety Restriction

A browser restriction designed to prevent malicious webpages from accessing private information or damaging user data.

script Tag

The HTML tag used to embed JavaScript code into a webpage.

type Attribute

An older script tag attribute specifying the scripting language; generally unnecessary for modern JavaScript.

language Attribute

An old script tag attribute specifying the scripting language; no longer needed because JavaScript is the default.

External Script

A JavaScript program stored in a separate file and linked to an HTML document.

src Attribute

The script tag attribute used to specify the location of an external JavaScript file.

Absolute Path

A complete path to a resource starting from the site root or other defined root.

Relative Path

A path specified relative to the current page or folder.

Cache

A storage area where downloaded resources can be stored for reuse.

Script Caching

Storing an external JavaScript file so that other pages can reuse it without downloading it again.

innerHTML

A JavaScript property used to read or change the HTML content inside an element.

document.write()

A JavaScript method that writes content into an HTML document.