Mobile Computing is a technology that allows us to transmit data, audio, and

video via devices that are not connected with any physical link. The key

features of mobile computing are that the computing devices are portable and

connected over a network.Mobile computing began with the first laptops

developed in 1980, and from there, rapidly grew in capability with the 640*640

portable laptops from Apple in 1990, the development of the first PDA in 1993,

the first smartphone from IBM released in 1994, network connectivity enabled

smartphones in 2000, the first iPhone released in 2007, and the first android

smartphone in 2009.Today there is great variety among mobile computing

devices, and their capabilities are increasing with each new model

released.The major elements of mobile computing are mobile communication,

mobile hardware, and mobile software.

● Mobile Communication: This refers to the communication

infrastructure set in place, including wireless network infrastructure,

protocols, data formats, bandwidths, and portals necessary to ensure
seamless connectivity and communication.
 ● Mobile Hardware: The hardware is the mobile computing devices and

supporting devices, with the capabilities required to perform their

required operations and connect to networks.
● Mobile Software: The most important software component is the

operating system, which is the brain of any computing system. For a

laptop, this may be Windows, Linux or macOS, and for a smartphone, it
may be Android or iOS. The different applications running on a device
are also part of the mobile software.

Mobile Computing Devices Usually, a mobile

computing device would have a body- made of metal or plastic, a RAM, a
CPU, a hard drive, a motherboard, a keyboard and a mouse- which could be
separate components in the body or touch-based, a screen, a video card, an
operating system, software applications, and finally, a network
connection.This is around the same as the components of a personal
computer, which isn't a mobile device. But mobile devices may have other
components too, to make them portable, and certain characteristics that make
them different-

● Size: The portability of mobile devices demand a smaller size.

Reduction in size without reducing capabilities have also always been a

challenge when developing mobile devices.
● Power Source: Mobile devices are usually powered by rechargeable

batteries. Improving the battery life of mobile devices is another

significant area of research

● Operating System: Laptops run on more or less the same OS as PCs,

but for smartphones and other devices, the OS is significantly different.

They are powerful but scaled-down and made specifically for particular
devices.

● Connectivity: Mobile computing devices have capabilities that allow

access to the internet. Also, mobile devices like smartphones have

access to mobile broadband networks that allow you to make and
receive phone calls.

● Applications: Applications meant for mobile devices are specifically

designed for running on a particular OS. These applications are what

 extends the capabilities of devices beyond just connecting to the
internet or making calls.

Other features generally found in mobile computing devices include GPS

capability, accelerometer, compass, microphone, camera, and so on.

Mobile computing devices have evolved greatly over time. A lot of the

devices that existed in the past have been phased out, like the Personal

Digital Assistant (PDA). We live now in the age of the smartphone, but

there are several other categories of mobile computing devices -

● Laptop: Laptop computers are portable personal computers. It is meant

to offer the same functionality as a PC, so the same OS, applications,

and files can run on this.
● Smartphone: A smartphone is a mobile phone with powerful

capabilities. They typically have a touchscreen interface, have internet

access, can run various applications, and include features like a camera
and GPS.

● Tablet computer: Tablets have touchscreens and virtual keyboards,

and are often thought of as an intermediary between a laptop and a

smartphone. They have better processing power, functionality, and
screen resolution than smartphones. Some models may also have a
stylus meant for navigating the touch screen better.

● Wearable: A more recent addition, wearable computers like

smartwatches offer limited features similar to a smartphone within a

watch.

● E-reader: E-readers are devices that are similar to tablets, but their

main purpose is to read digital documents.

 Other devices include scanners, carputers, handheld gaming consoles,

advanced digital cameras, smart speakers, and so on.

Advantages and Limitations of Mobile Computing

The mobile computing revolution has doubtlessly been advantageous for the

whole world. But there are disadvantages, limitations, and possible risks that

mobile computing poses, and it is important to study both the pros and the

cons to make the best out of technology.

So here are the advantages and limitations of mobile computing-

 Advantages and Limitations of Mobile Computing

Advantages of mobile computing

● Portability

Mobility is the biggest benefit that mobile computing devices offer. With

the advent of mobile computing, it became possible for people to carry

around computing devices with great capabilities. There is no need to go

to a physical location to access the internet or work with a particular

software.

● Affordability

With each passing year, mobile computing devices are becoming

cheaper and offer more capabilities. Even those who are economically

struggling can easily invest in a smartphone. With affordability comes

accessibility, and eventually, this would also result in closing the digital

divide.
● Data Access

The internet opened up a trove of an incomprehensible amount of data,

and mobile computing devices made that data accessible to everyone.

Gone are the days when you had to pore over huge books in a library to

compile a research paper, or look through phone books, or ask for

directions at every street corner.

● Increased Productivity

The above benefits facilitate a great increase in productivity. People can

work from their homes at any and all times. They have access to large

amounts of information and can teach themselves anything and do

anything.
● Entertainment

A lot of us would’ve reached the breaking point during the lockdown

periods if it weren’t for Netflix and Amazon Prime. Access to a wide

variety of movies, educational and informative content is now simple.

Thanks to the availability of relatively inexpensive high-speed data

connections, you can live stream anything anywhere.

● Cloud Computing

Advancements in cloud computing have greatly increased the

capabilities of mobile computing. The limitations in physical capabilities

that mobile computing devices face can be overcome by storing

information and accessing applications in the cloud.

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Future Scope

Limitations of mobile computing-

● Security

There are several security concerns associated with the increased

popularity of mobile computing devices. Keeping a device constantly

connected to the internet makes it vulnerable to threats. Cybersecurity

concerns like data breaches and unethical practices such as hacking,

pirating, and so on, are becoming increasingly difficult to keep in check.

● Issues with Connectivity

Mobile devices need either WiFi connectivity or mobile network

connectivity to access most of their capabilities. Most applications don’t

function without internet connectivity, and the lack of it makes devices

very limited.

● Device Size Limitations

The portability of mobile computing devices demands smaller sizes. And

the limitations in size puts limitations on features like processing power,

storage, and screen resolution.

● Power Consumption

Rechargeable batteries are always limited by the time it needs before it

needs to be plugged in. A possible lack of availability of power sources

and charging stations can render mobile computing devices useless.

● Dependency

Because mobile computing devices are lacking in some ways, as

mentioned above, increased dependency on them can prove dangerous.

Nowadays we always expect to have our smartphone with us to help us

solve any problem, and we would be lost if it runs out of juice.

 We don’t know our way around without Google Maps, can’t do basic

math without a calculator, rely on digital payments and don’t carry around

cash, and don’t know how to store memories without pictures. No matter

how much technology advances, there will be a certain amount of

unreliability associated with mobile computing, and it would be good for

us to keep that in mind.

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Future of Mobile Computing

With high-speed connections probably becoming ubiquitous in the future, the

accessibility and popularity of mobile computing will only increase further.

With new innovations like Li-Fi technology, you can get internet access

through the light of all things.

Newer mobile computing devices are figuring out how to pack high processing

power into the smallest of packages. Samsung launched a new line of

foldable smartphones recently, which are lightyears ahead of the flip phones

of the early 21st century.

Technologies like Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things are also

propelling mobile computing forward in new and innovative directions.

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