Chapter 8: Wireless, Mobile Computing & Mobile Commerce (Lecture 7) Master Exam Notes

Introduction: Wireless vs. Mobile (VERY testable distinction)

• Wireless: communication without physical wires
  
  

• Mobile: something that changes location over time
  
  

• Important:
  
  

  • Some technologies are wireless but not mobile
    
    

  • Some are both wireless and mobile (e.g., MiFi)
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

8.1 Wireless Technologies

What wireless technologies include

• Wireless devices (e.g., smartphones)
  
  

• Wireless transmission media:
  
  

  • Microwave
    
    

  • Satellite
    
    

  • Radio
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

Wireless Devices

Advantages for users (3 key ones)

1. Small and portable (easy to carry or wear)
   
   

2. Enough computing power to perform productive tasks
   
   

3. Can communicate wirelessly with the Internet and other devices
   Lecture 7-Ch. 8
   
   

Major disadvantage for businesses

• Employees can capture and transmit sensitive, confidential, or proprietary information, increasing security risks
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Wireless Transmission Media

(Also called broadcast media)

• Transmit signals without wires
  
  

• Three main types:
  
  

  • Microwave
    
    

  • Satellite
    
    

  • Radio
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

Microwave Transmission

• Uses electromagnetic waves
  
  

• Supports high-volume, long-distance, line-of-sight communication
  
  

• Towers usually spaced no more than 50 km apart
  
  

• Susceptible to environmental interference, such as heavy rain or snowstorms
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Satellite Transmission

• Uses communication satellites
  
  

• Requires line-of-sight
  
  

• Three satellite types:
  
  

  • GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit)
    
    

  • MEO (Medium Earth Orbit)
    
    

  • LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
    
    

• Advantage:
  
  

  • Very large footprint (coverage area), which overcomes microwave distance limits
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

Radio Transmission

• Uses radio wave frequencies
  
  

• Devices are:
  
  

  • Relatively inexpensive
    
    

  • Easy to install
    
    

• Widely used in:
  
  

  • Wi-Fi
    
    

  • Cellular networks
    
    

• Makes radio transmission very common in everyday communication
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Advantages & Disadvantages of Wireless Media

• Wireless allows flexibility and mobility
  
  

• However, it may face:
  
  

  • Interference
    
    

  • Security risks
    
    

  • Performance limitations compared to wired networks
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

8.2 Wireless Computer Networks & Internet Access

Wireless networks are categorized by distance:

• Short-range
  
  

• Medium-range
  
  

• Wide-area
  
  
  

Short-Range Wireless Networks

• Range: 30 meters (100 ft) or less
  
  

Bluetooth

• Creates personal area networks (PANs)

• Low-power, radio-based

• Applications:

  • Headsets

  • Music players
    
    
    

Ultra-Wideband (UWB)

• Radio-based communication

• Very high bandwidth (over 100 Mbps)
  
  

• Applications:
  
  

  • Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS)
    
    

  • Mobile robotics
    
    

  • Mining equipment tracking
    
    
    

Near-Field Communication (NFC)

• Shortest range of all wireless networks
  
  

• Embedded in:
  
  

  • Smartphones
    
    

  • Credit cards
    
    

• Used for:
  
  

  • Contactless payments (tap-to-pay)
    
    
    

Medium-Range Wireless Networks (WLANs)

Wi-Fi

• Most common medium-range wireless network
  
  

• Allows devices to connect without physical cables
  
  

Wi-Fi Direct

• Newer version of Wi-Fi
  
  

• Enables peer-to-peer connections
  
  

• Does not require a wireless access point
  
  

• Used for:
  
  

  • Screen mirroring
    
    

  • Connecting phones, tablets, laptops to smart TVs
    
    

MiFi (Mobile Fidelity)

• Small, portable wireless device
  
  

• Provides a personal Wi-Fi hotspot wherever the user goes
  
  

• Both wireless and mobile
  
  

Li-Fi (Light Fidelity)

• Uses light waves to transmit data
  
  

• Advantages:
  
  

  • Higher bandwidth

  • Improved security compared to Wi-Fi

Wide-Area Wireless Networks

• Connect users across large geographic areas
  
  

• Two main categories:
  
  

  • Cellular radio
    
    

  • Wireless broadband (WiMAX)
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

Cellular Telephones

• Two-way radio communication
  
  

• Use a network of base stations (cells)
  
  

• Allows seamless handoffs when users move
  
  

• Generations:
  
  

  • 1G, 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, 5G
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

Wireless Broadband (WiMAX)

• Stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  
  

• Covers distances up to 50 km
  
  

• Faster and broader coverage than Wi-Fi
  
  

• Useful in:
  
  

  • Rural or underserved areas
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

8.3 Mobile Computing & Mobile Commerce

Mobile Computing

• Technology that allows people to use devices while on the move
  
  

Two key characteristics

1. Mobility – users can connect from anywhere
   
   

2. Broad reach – users can be contacted instantly across large distances
   Lecture 7-Ch. 8
   
   

Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce)

Definition

• E-commerce transactions conducted in a wireless environment, mainly via the Internet
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Drivers of m-commerce

• Widespread use of mobile devices
  
  

• Falling device prices
  
  

• Increased bandwidth
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Mobile Commerce Applications

• Mobile banking
  
  

• Mobile payments
  
  

• Location-based services
  
  

• Shopping apps
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

8.4 Internet of Things (IoT)

Definitions & Alternate Names

Also known as:

• Internet of Everything
  
  

• Internet of Anything
  
  

• Industrial Internet
  
  

• Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication
  
  

Definition

• A system where objects have unique identities (IP addresses) and can send/receive data over a network (usually the Internet)
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

Wireless Sensors (IoT Foundation)

• Monitor:
  
  

  • Temperature
    
    

  • Sound
    
    

  • Pressure
    
    

  • Vibration
    
    

  • Movement
    
    

• Can also control physical systems (e.g., adjusting temperature automatically)
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

IoT Examples

• Smart homes
  
  

• Digital twins
  
  

  • Virtual models of real-world products or systems
    
    

  • Used for simulation, monitoring, and optimization
    Lecture 7-Ch. 8
    
    

RFID Technology

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)

• Uses tags with:
  
  

  • Embedded microchips
    
    

  • Antennas
    
    

• Sends data to RFID readers via radio signals
  
  

• Developed to replace barcodes
  Lecture 7-Ch. 8
  
  

RFID vs Barcodes vs QR Codes

Barcodes (UPC)

• Require line of sight
  
  

• Easily damaged
  
  

• Store limited information
  
  

QR Codes

• Store more information
  
  

• More durable
  
  

• Can be scanned from any direction
  
  

RFID

• No line of sight required
  
  

• Faster scanning
  
  

• Can track objects automatically

8.2 wireless computer networks and internet access

NFC, wifi, bluetooth, 5G