Computer Science (COMP) 637
Mobile Computing

Overview | Course Objectives | Learning Outcomes | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials - Textbook | Course Materials - Other | Special Course Features | Course Fees | Course Availability

Overview

People and businesses benefit extensively from mobile technologies. For example, at anytime and from anywhere, a user can receive emails, browse web pages, play online games, and upload/download important documents, using either smart phones or laptops with 3.5G wireless adapters. An employee can access product information, obtain technician/expert help, acquire stock information, and place orders directly to the business database. Businesses can reduce the cost of network construction, provide employees convenient and quick supports anytime and anywhere, and give customers twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, year-round, non-stop service, in either information inquiry or specific representative connect. All of the above are benefits of mobile computing.

COMP 637 illustrates how mobile computing works, what mobile computing involves, and the different applications that mobile computing offers to people, employees, and businesses. Students will play a large role in searching, defining, refining, and updating the latest mobile computing infrastructures, technologies, and applications. Students will also become familiar with the technologies/topics they prefer, and will have the opportunity to thoroughly investigate these topics through discussion with their peers. Students' contributions (for example, the glossaries in Unit 6 and the presentation in Unit 7) will be used as a resource for future students.

Course Objectives

This course will provide graduate students of MSc Information Systems with both broad and in-depth knowledge, and a critical understanding of mobile computing from different viewpoints: infrastructures, principles and theories, technologies, and applications in different domains. The course will provide an overview of the complete mobile computing subject area, and will include the latest research. In Unit 6, students will have the opportunitiy to delve into more specific technology and/or application domains by forming a small special interest group (SIG) with their fellow students. In addition, through presentations, Q&A, and debates, students will have the opportunity to further explore specific topics. Student contributions to the glossaries and presentations will become great resources for future students enrolled in the course.

Learning Outcomes

After completing COMP 637, the learner will be able to

a. explain the principles of mobile computing technologies;

b. list different applications that mobile computing offers to people, employees, and businesses;

c. describe the possible future of mobile computing technologies and applications.

Outline

• Unit 1. Social Software and Academic Search Service
• Unit 2. Fundamentals of Mobile Computing
• Unit 3. Infrastructures for Mobile Computing Applications
• Unit 4. Mobile Computing Technologies
• Unit 5. Mobile Computing Applications
• Unit 6. Research Exploration in Depth
• Unit 7. Presentation and Reflection

Evaluation

To receive credit towards the Master of Science in IS, for Electives/Career track, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least C+. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Glossaries	20%
Survey	10%
Presentation	20%
Reflection	15%
Comments	15%
Contributions	20%
Total	100%

Course Materials - Textbook

All materials for Computer Science 637 will be made available through a link guide on the course Web site.

Readings for this course will be taken entirely from web-based resources, and can be accessed via academic journal databases on AU Library's Web site, Google Scholar, Google Book, Google, Citeseer, and CiteseerX. The contents will be discovered and accessed by the students. Literature and presentations that are found to be most significant and relevant will be selected and added to the list of recommended reading materials, glossaries, presentations, and news feeds for future students.

Course Materials - Other

The remaining learning materials for Computer Science 637 are also distributed in electronic format. At this time, those materials include

1. Computer Science 637 Study Guide;
2. detailed descriptions of the requirements for the individual assignments;
3. a course evaluation form;
4. links to a variety of resources on the World Wide Web.

Special Course Features

COMP 637 will be offered in a paced electronic mode. Electronic paced study is facilitated through a variety of computer-mediated communication options, and can be completed at the student's workplace or home.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.


Athabasca University
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Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
(780) 675-6111, (800) 788-9041
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