Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 11

2013

The Buzz: A Mobile Learning Glossary

Written By: Gail Alleyne Bayne


EDIT 5000

What is the Buzz?


The Buzz is a modern day glossary which contains explanations for common buzzwords we encounter in reference to mobile technologies and mobile learning in our everyday lives. Mobile learning is continuous learning that takes place anywhere and anytime (i.e. ubiquitous learning) via the use of portable devices such as smart phones, laptops, iPads, to name a few.

Glossary
Objective-C vs. Java
Objective-C is an object-oriented (OO) programming language and the main programming language used by Apple for the OS X and iOS operating system and their iPhone/iPad/iPod apps. It is a superset of the C programming language and Smalltalk.

Java is also an object-oriented programming language and was first released by Sun Microsystems. Among other things, it is used for the development of Android apps. Both ObjectiveC and Java utilizes the same concepts as OO languages (for example inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation). However, a major difference between the two languages is that Objective-C is only used to develop Apples platforms, whereas Java software can run on pretty much anything. Therefore, Java is a platform independent (i.e. write once, run anywhere) programming language.

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

LTE (or 4G) vs. 3G


Both 4G and 3G are standards for mobile communication. The G stands for generation of mobile technology. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defined the third generation (3G) of mobile telephony standards IMT-2000 to facilitate growth, increase bandwidth, and support more diverse applications. All 3G standards must provide a peak data transfer rate of at least 2 Mbps. Most 3G standards, however, provide much faster transfer rates of up to 14.4 Mbps. The fourth generation (4G) of wireless network technology features greater bandwidth and faster speeds than previous wireless networks. 4G technologies are designed to provide IP-based voice, data and multimedia streaming at speeds of at least 100 Mbps and up to as fast as 1 Gbps. The info-graphic in Figure 1 below compares 4G LTE speeds to 3G speeds.

Figure 1: Comparison of 4G LTE to 3G Speed (Source: RootMetrics.com) The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary 3

Native Apps vs. Web Apps


A native app is an app for a certain mobile device (e.g. smart phone or tablet). They are installed directly onto the device and acquired from an online store such as the App Store (i.e. for Apple mobile devices). A web app is an Internet-enabled app that has specific functionality for mobile devices. They are accessed through the mobile devices web browser. Figure 2 below shows a side by side comparison between native apps and web apps. With native app development, the number of apps you need to build directly relates to the number of platforms you need to support. Today, these platforms include iOS, Android, Windows 8/Phone, and BlackBerry. A mobile web app can be opened on any platform, device, phone, or tablet with a web browser. On the other hand, native apps have full access to the underlying mobile platform and are therefore usually very fast, making them great for high performance apps or games.

Figure 2: Native App vs. Web App (Source: Global Intelligence Alliance)

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

Mobile Websites vs. Desktop (Full) Websites


Mobile Websites are designed for mobile platforms and are optimized for mobile devices. Although Desktop Websites can be displayed on mobile devices, they are not optimized to run on mobile devices. There are three basic differences between Mobile Websites and Desktop Websites; these are: technology, aesthetics, and purpose. Devices have different technological capabilities. For example, on a desktop site you can include multiple videos, large images, and Flash animation, but that will not work on a mobile site due to bandwidth and browser limitations. Therefore, mobile sites cannot do some of the things that desktop sites can and vice versa. In addition, mobile websites are adapted to a different design and layout because of smaller screen size on mobile devices. Screen resolution on a desktop website is typically 1024 x 768, and on a mobile site it is 320 x 480. Mobile sites also cannot handle an overload of text like desktop sites. Having less text that is larger lets the user read easily and makes it much more likely that they will read it. Good mobile websites maintain a single focus. Because mobile devices have a limited viewing area, it is important for each mobile page to have a single focus. A visual comparison between Yahoos mobile and desktop website is displayed in Figures 3 and 4 below.

Figure 3: Features on Yahoo Mobile Website

Figure 4: Features on Yahoo Desktop Website

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

Accelerometer vs. Gyroscope in a Mobile Device


The accelerometer is a built-in electronic sensor in a mobile device that measures tilt and motion. It is also capable of detecting rotation and motion gestures such as swinging or shaking. The most common use for it is to activate auto screen rotation on mobile devices when the user changes their orientation from portrait to landscape or vice-versa. An accelerometer measures only the linear acceleration of the device, whereas a gyroscope measures the orientation of the device. The gyroscope adds an additional dimension to the information supplied by the accelerometer by tracking rotation or twist. Figure 5 illustrates the concept of a Gyroscope. Both sensors measure rate of change. However, they measure the rate of change for different things.

Figure 5: Gyroscope

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

QR code vs. Barcode


A QR (Quick Response) code (pictured below in Figure 6) is a two dimensional barcode that contains data that can be read by a phone's camera. Most smart phones come equipped with software that allows them to download a QR Code reader. Once a reader is downloaded, the phone's camera acts like a scanner, allowing it to "read" the barcode. These codes, once scanned by your phone, can provide a URL, contact information, SMS, or similar links to information right on your phone. For instance, you might hand out business cards at an event containing a QR code that leads people to your Website with more information about your business. A barcode is a machine readable form of information on a scannable, visual surface. The barcode (pictured below in Figure 7) is read by using a special scanner that reads the information directly off of it. The information is then transmitted into a database where it can be logged and tracked. QR codes and barcodes are similar in nature. However, barcodes have a large variety of uses especially in retail and manufacturing settings, and in transport and shipping. It is generally used where large numbers of items need to be tracked efficiently (e.g. grocery inventory, shipping packages). QR codes are well suited for marketing purposes.

Figure 7: Barcode Figure 6: QR Code

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

iOS vs. Android


An operating system is the system that all other programs operate in. iOS is the operating system used by Apple for their mobile devices (such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod). Android is the operating system developed by Google used for other mobile phones. It is an open source platform which can be used by any phone manufacturer in the world, unlike Apples iOS. Image 1 displays a little Apple vs. Android humor as they fight to gain market share.
Image 1: Apple vs. Android (Image by eyelk.com)

Chart 1 below shows smart phone market share for Q1 2011 and Q1 2012 as pie charts. Based on the chart below, Android has a bigger share of the market than iOS. This is most likely due to Androids open source platform and flexibility. However, this openness makes it more vulnerable to malware attacks. To that end, the closed, proprietary iOS architecture makes it a more secure operating system.

Chart 1: Chart by The Mac Observer, from Gartner Data

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

NFC (Near field Communication)


Near field communication (NFC) uses electromagnetic radio fields to allow two compatible devices to exchange data and share information when passed close to each other. Typically the devices must be within four to five centimeters of each other to work. The way the technology works is the smart phone or other NFC compatible device sends out radio frequency signals that interact with an NFC tag found in compatible card readers and smart posters. The signal creates a current that flows through the NFC tag and allows the device and the tag to communicate with one another. Image 2 below shows a consumer buying a ticket with a NFC-enabled mobile phone. Essentially, NFC technology makes life easier and more convenient for consumers around the world by making it simpler to make transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch.

Image 2: NFC-enabled mobile phone

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

AR (Augmented Reality)
Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with live video or the user's environment in real time. The goal of Augmented Reality is to create a system in which the user cannot tell the difference between the real world and the virtual reality (i.e. augmentation) of it. Take a look at this fun, YouTube, Augmented Reality Show Reel produced by Total Immersion.

Link to Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AiL_c2D 45QA

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

10

Resources
http://www.rootmetrics.com/blog/trends-were-seeing/putting-data-speeds-in-context-a-3g-vs-4glte-infographic/ http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/4/4G_LTE.html http://searchtelecom.techtarget.com/definition/3G http://sixrevisions.com/mobile/native-app-vs-mobile-web-app-comparison/ http://www.wired.com/insights/2012/11/native-apps-vs-mobile-web/ http://blogs.imediaconnection.com/blog/2011/12/16/desktop-vs-mobile-websites-%E2%80%93know-the-differences/ http://www.gsmarena.com/glossary.php3?term=accelerometer http://www.gsmarena.com/glossary.php3?term=sensors http://www.ehow.com/info_12213292_gyroscope-accelerometers-used-smartphones.html http://www.nationalbarcode.com/info/what-is-a-barcode.html http://www.visualead.com/qurify2/en/what_are_qr_codes/ http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/02/qr-codes-barcodes-rfid-difference.html http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_claims_7.9_of_mobile_phone_market_in_q1 http://www.goharsh.com/cell-phone/iphone-vs-android-comparison/ http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org/faq.html http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org/about-nfc.html http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutnfc/ http://www.t-immersion.com/augmented-reality/what-augmented-reality http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/Augmented_Reality.html

The Buzz |A Mobile Learning Glossary

11

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi