• Small and can be moved with you
  • Sealed unit lacking any user replaceable parts
  • Mobile devices use special mobile operating systems

General vs. Purpose built

  • General purpose devices are loaded with a Kernel system that can be transformed into a fully usable Operating System
  • Purpose built is specific towards a single usage such as reading, calculating, tracking, transmitting, etc.

Smartphones

  • Earliest Smart Phones were something similar to blackberry
  • 2004 started with system such as PDAs that included cellular service
  • Modern
    • Provide touch interface
    • Have APIs for developer to program against and build applications
    • Usage of Cellular, wifi, and bluetooth radio
  • Kernel system loaded with specific operating systems such as Andriod, Windows, or iOS
  • No user replaceable components

Tablets

  • Similar to smartphones but much larger in size
  • Mostly rely on Wifi provided services
  • Rely on touch input for usage
  • Come with both general and specific purpose design

Virtual Reality Headsets

  • Provide ability to engage in augmented and virtual reality

Hardware

  • Screen Technologies
  • Cameras
  • Microphones
  • Digitizers
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • LCD Screen
  • Expensive smartphones use organize light-emitting diode (OLED)

Cameras

  • Allow for video and pictures
  • quality various based on device
  • features like HDR, short burst, filters, and action shots

Microphones

  • Smart phones contain microphones
  • Some allow external Microphones
  • Some software listening in with permissions

Digitizers

  • Allow for touch commands
  • Send signals to the OS it’s location on the grid
  • Allows for hand gestures such as pinch or swiping

Global Positioning System (GPS)

  • Apps can track progress for things like fitness running
  • Sharing location with friends or family
  • Provide turn-by-turn instructions
  • Locate a lost or stolen device

Internet of Things (IoT)

    • Devices that are provided data over Radio, Wifi, GPS, or Cellular connection to transmit specific pieces of information back to a server somewhere for data mining purposes.
    • This can also be as simple as your coffee maker, your security camera, refridgerator, etc.

Digital Devices

    • amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft provide “smart listening” device which can take user audio input and generate useful information from it.