Designing and Implementing Mouse Emulation to Touchscreen Operated Mobile Web Browsers

Browsing the web has become one of the most important features in high end mobile phones and in the future more and more people will be using mobile phone for web browsing. Large touchscreens improve browsing experience but many web sites are designed to be used with a mouse. A touchscreen differs substantially from a mouse as a pointing device and therefore mouse emulation logic is required in the browsers to make more web sites usable. This Master's thesis lists the most significant cases where the differences of a mouse and a touchscreen affect web browsing. Five touchscreen mobile phones and their web browsers were evaluated to find out if and how these cases are handled in them. Also as a part of this thesis, a simple QtWebKit based mobile web browser with advanced mouse emulation model was implemented, aiming to solve all the problematic cases. The conclusion of this work is that it is feasible to emulate a mouse with a touchscreen and thus deliver good user experience in mobile web browsing. However, current highend touchscreen mobile phones have relatively underdeveloped mouse emulations in their web browsers and there is a lot to improve.

The Usage of Microsoft Push Notification Service on Mobile Devices

Along with the increasing in demand of mobile computing, Push Notification (PN) is widely used in mobile phones and other devices. PN allows the developer to send messages to the end users even when the client application is not running at the moment. This solves the problem produced by non-supported multi-tasking feature as well as saving battery life. Microsoft Push Notification Service (MPNS) is one solution to use PNs in Windows Phones. The thesis gives the developers an idea of how to use PNs by introducing MPNS, comparing MPNS with other Push Notification Services, usage of different PN types analysis, and PN simulation system implementation.

A design and a prototype for a mobile information service for tourists

Tourism is one of the biggest industry branches with billions of tourists traveling every year around the world. Therefore, solutions providing tourist information have to be up to date with both changes in the industry and the world’s technological progress. The aim of this thesis is to present a design and a prototype of a tourist mobile service which is individual-oriented, cost-free for the end user, and secure. On the information providers’ side, the solution is implemented as a Webbased database. The end users access the information through a Bluetooth application on their mobile devices. The Bluetooth-based solution allows to avoid any costs for the end users, that is tourists. The study shows that, even with small data transfers, the tourists could save significantly when compared to possible roaming charges for data transfer. Also, the proposed mobile service is not intrusive, as it is provided through an application installed by tourists voluntarily on their mobile devices. Through design and implementation this work shows that it is possible to build a system which can be used to provide information services to tourists through mobile phones. The work achieved a successful ongoing synchronization between the client and the server databases. Implementation and usage were limited to smart phones only, as they provide better technological support for the solution having features like maps, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Databases. Moreover, the design of this system shows how Bluetooth technology can be used effectively as a means of communication while minimizing its shortcomings and risks, such as security, by bypassing Bluetooth server service discovery protocol (SDP) and connecting directly to the device. Apart from showing the design and implementation of the end-user costfree mobile information service, the results of this work also highlight the possible business opportunities to the provider of the service.

Development of a Control System for a Tele Operated Mobile Robot

Mobile robots are capable of performing spatial displacement motions in different environments. This motions can be calculated based on sensorial data (autonomous robot) or given by an operator (tele operated robot). This thesis is focused on the latter providing the control architecture which bridges the tele operator and the robot’s locomotion system and end effectors. Such a task might prove overwhelming in cases where the robot comprises a wide variety of sensors and actuators hence a relatively new option was selected: Robot Operating System (ROS). The control system of a new robot will be sketched and tested in a simulation model using ROS together with Gazebo in order to determine the viability of such a system. The simulated model will be based on the projected shape and main features of the real machine. A stability analysis will be performed first theoretically and afterwards using the developed model. This thesis concluded that both the physical properties and the control architecture are feasible and stable settling up the ground for further work with the same robot.

Examining human-centered design practice in the mobile apps era

Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a well-recognized approach to the design of interactive computing systems that supports everyday and professional lives of people. To that end, the HCD approach put central emphasis on the explicit understanding of users and context of use by involving users throughout the entire design and development process. With mobile computing, the diversity of users as well as the variety in the spatial, temporal, and social settings of the context of use has notably expanded, which affect the effort of interaction designers to understand users and context of use. The emergence of the mobile apps era in 2008 as a result of structural changes in the mobile industry and the profound enhanced capabilities of mobile devices, further intensify the embeddedness of technology in the daily life of people and the challenges that interaction designers face to cost-efficiently understand users and context of use. Supporting interaction designers in this challenge requires understanding of their existing practice, rationality, and work environment. The main objective of this dissertation is to contribute to interaction design theories by generating understanding on the HCD practice of mobile systems in the mobile apps era, as well as to explain the rationality of interaction designers in attending to users and context of use. To achieve that, a literature study is carried out, followed by a mixed-methods research that combines multiple qualitative interview studies and a quantitative questionnaire study. The dissertation contributes new insights regarding the evolving HCD practice at an important time of transition from stationary computing to mobile computing. Firstly, a gap is identified between interaction design as practiced in research and in the industry regarding the involvement of users in context; whereas the utilization of field evaluations, i.e. in real-life environments, has become more common in academic projects, interaction designers in the industry still rely, by large, on lab evaluations. Secondly, the findings indicate on new aspects that can explain this gap and the rationality of interaction designers in the industry in attending to users and context; essentially, the professional-client relationship was found to inhibit the involvement of users, while the mental distance between practitioners and users as well as the perceived innovativeness of the designed system are suggested in explaining the inclination to study users in situ. Thirdly, the research contributes the first explanatory model on the relation between the organizational context and HCD; essentially, innovation-focused organizational strategies greatly affect the cost-effective usage of data on users and context of use. Last, the findings suggest a change in the nature of HCD in the mobile apps era, at least with universal consumer systems; evidently, the central attention on the explicit understanding of users and context of use shifts from an early requirements phase and continual activities during design and development to follow-up activities. That is, the main effort to understand users is by collecting data on their actual usage of the system, either before or after the system is deployed. The findings inform both researchers and practitioners in interaction design. In particular, the dissertation suggest on action research as a useful approach to support interaction designers and further inform theories on interaction design. With regard to the interaction design practice, the dissertation highlights strategies that encourage a more cost-effective user- and context-informed interaction design process. With the continual embeddedness of computing into people’s life, e.g. with wearable devices and connected car systems, the dissertation provides a timely and valuable view on the evolving humancentered design.

Mobile Books: Effect of Engagement on Students’ Motivation and Cognitive Strategy Use

This mixed methods research explores the role of reading engagement in 30 grade 1 students’ motivation to read mobile electronic storybooks (eBooks) and cognitive strategies used during eBook reading. Data collection comprised motivation and parent questionnaires, behavioural observation checklists, cognitive strategies rubric, and teacher interviews. Students’ emotional engagement with and enjoyment of mobile eBooks corresponded to 4 motivational aspects of intrinsic motivation: curiosity, control, choice, and challenge. Post-intervention results indicated that most student participants enjoyed answering eBook comprehension questions and preferred eBooks to print books; by the end of the study, all had access to a mobile device at home. A majority of participants were actively engaged during mobile eBook reading sessions and persisted in answering embedded eBook comprehension questions, which together reflected students’ behavioural engagement and time-on-task during mobile reading. Students’ off-task behaviours related to iPads’ accessibility features and inherent reader-friendliness. All participants successfully answered evaluative questions requiring them to activate prior knowledge, and experienced higher levels of difficulty with making personal connections. The study highlights the importance of making school-based literacy practices relevant to students’ outside worlds, and discusses implications for teacher educators, administrators, curriculum developers, and eBook and other digital developers concerning the need for greater collaboration in order to more closely align technology resources with national curriculum expectations.

Étude empirique du contexte d’utilisation des interfaces de vidéocommunication mobile

Ce document présente les résultats d’une étude empirique sur l’utilisation de la vidéoconférence mobile selon le contexte de l’usager afin de proposer des lignes directrices pour la conception des interfaces des dispositifs de communication vidéo mobile. Grâce à un échange riche d’informations, ce type de communication peut amener un sentiment de présence fort, mais les interfaces actuelles manquent de flexibilité qui permettrait aux usagers d’être créatifs et d’avoir des échanges plus riches lors d’une vidéoconférence. Nous avons mené une recherche avec seize participants dans trois activités où leurs conversations, leurs réactions et leurs comportements ont été observés. Deux groupes de discussion ont aussi servi à identifier les habitudes développées à partir de leur utilisation régulière de la vidéoconférence. Les résultats suggèrent une différence importante entre l’utilisation de la caméra avant et la caméra arrière de l’appareil mobile, et la nécessité de fournir des outils qui offrent plus de contrôle sur l’échange dans la conversation. L’étude propose plusieurs lignes directrices de conception pour les interfaces de communication vidéo mobiles, concernant la construction du contexte mobile de l’utilisateur.

Microstrip antennas for mobile telephone handset with reduced radiation hazards

A novel antenna configuration comprised of two circular micro strip antennas (CMAs) resonating in the TMtt and TM2, modes, producing radiation characteristics suitable for a mobile telephone handset, is presented. The antennas operating at the same frequency are placed back to back with a separation comparable to the thickness of a typical handset. The radiation pattern consists of a region of reduced radiation intensity, which minimizes the radiation hazards to the user

Cooperative Caching Framework for Mobile Cloud Computing

Due to the advancement in mobile devices and wireless networks mobile cloud computing, which combines mobile computing and cloud computing has gained momentum since 2009. The characteristics of mobile devices and wireless network makes the implementation of mobile cloud computing more complicated than for fixed clouds. This section lists some of the major issues in Mobile Cloud Computing. One of the key issues in mobile cloud computing is the end to end delay in servicing a request. Data caching is one of the techniques widely used in wired and wireless networks to improve data access efficiency. In this paper we explore the possibility of a cooperative caching approach to enhance data access efficiency in mobile cloud computing. The proposed approach is based on cloudlets, one of the architecture designed for mobile cloud computing.

Microstrip Antennas For Mobile Telephone Handset With Reduced Radiation Hazards

A novel antenna configuration comprised of two circular microstrip antennas (CMAs) resonating in the TMtt and TM2, modes, producing radiation characteristics suitable for a mobile telephone handset, is presented. The antennas operating at the same frequency are placed back to back with a separation comparable to the thickness of a typical handset. The radiation pattern consists of a region of reduced radiation intensity, which minimizes the radiation hazards to the user

gvSIG Mobile. Cliente GIS/IDE móvil

En la actualidad el proyecto gvSIG se encuentra en una etapa bastante avanzada. La aplicación ya posee múltiples funcionalidades que la convierten en una herramienta de referencia dentro del mundo de SIG, especialmente en ambientes opensource. En este momento, en que gvSIG es una aplicación consolidada sobre equipos de sobremesa, surge la necesidad de ampliar las plataformas de ejecución de gvSIG a una gama de dispositivos móviles, para dar respuesta a las necesidades de un creciente número de usuarios de soluciones móviles que desean hacer uso de un SIG en diferentes tipos de dispositivos. De esta manera el universo de gvSIG se verá ampliado al dotarlo de todas las ventajas de utilización en una amplia gama de dispositivos. Se va a describir el alcance previsto del proyecto gvSIG Mobile, la situación actual y una introducción tecnológica a las características del desarrollo de la aplicación sobre la plataforma J2ME

An agenda for the European Council: feasible steps to bring the eurozone back from the precipice. CEPS Policy Brief No. 274, 20 June 2012

In the run-up to the emergency European Council meeting at the end of June, Stefano Micossi outlines in this Policy Brief the main elements of a realistic and yet incisive policy package, capable of reassuring financial markets and a bewildered public opinion. It is more than Germany has been willing to accept so far but much less than many of the demands it will confront at the Council meeting. More importantly, it only requires a minimum of additional disbursements by the member states, while strengthening risk-sharing for sovereign and banking risks.

Pollination and other ecosystem services produced by mobile organisms: a conceptual framework for the effects of land-use change

Many ecosystem services are delivered by organisms that depend on habitats that are segregated spatially or temporally from the location where services are provided. Management of mobile organisms contributing to ecosystem services requires consideration not only of the local scale where services are delivered, but also the distribution of resources at the landscape scale, and the foraging ranges and dispersal movements of the mobile agents. We develop a conceptual model for exploring how one such mobile-agent-based ecosystem service (MABES), pollination, is affected by land-use change, and then generalize the model to other MABES. The model includes interactions and feedbacks among policies affecting land use, market forces and the biology of the organisms involved. Animal-mediated pollination contributes to the production of goods of value to humans such as crops; it also bolsters reproduction of wild plants on which other services or service-providing organisms depend. About one-third of crop production depends on animal pollinators, while 60-90% of plant species require an animal pollinator. The sensitivity of mobile organisms to ecological factors that operate across spatial scales makes the services provided by a given community of mobile agents highly contextual. Services vary, depending on the spatial and temporal distribution of resources surrounding the site, and on biotic interactions occurring locally, such as competition among pollinators for resources, and among plants for pollinators. The value of the resulting goods or services may feed back via market-based forces to influence land-use policies, which in turn influence land management practices that alter local habitat conditions and landscape structure. Developing conceptual models for MABES aids in identifying knowledge gaps, determining research priorities, and targeting interventions that can be applied in an adaptive management context.

MIMO Wiener model identification for large scale fading of wireless mobile communications links

The large scale fading of wireless mobile communications links is modelled assuming the mobile receiver motion is described by a dynamic linear system in state-space. The geometric relations involved in the attenuation and multi-path propagation of the electric field are described by a static non-linear mapping. A Wiener system subspace identification algorithm in conjunction with polynomial regression is used to identify a model from time-domain estimates of the field intensity assuming a multitude of emitters and an antenna array at the receiver end.

Obstacle avoidance routing scheme through optimal sink movement for home monitoring and mobile robotic consumer devices

In recent years, ZigBee has been proven to be an excellent solution to create scalable and flexible home automation networks. In a home automation network, consumer devices typically collect data from a home monitoring environment and then transmit the data to an end user through multi-hop communication without the need for any human intervention. However, due to the presence of typical obstacles in a home environment, error-free reception may not be possible, particularly for power constrained devices. A mobile sink based data transmission scheme can be one solution but obstacles create significant complexities for the sink movement path determination process. Therefore, an obstacle avoidance data routing scheme is of vital importance to the design of an efficient home automation system. This paper presents a mobile sink based obstacle avoidance routing scheme for a home monitoring system. The mobile sink collects data by traversing through the obstacle avoidance path. Through ZigBee based hardware implementation and verification, the proposed scheme successfully transmits data through the obstacle avoidance path to improve network performance in terms of life span, energy consumption and reliability. The application of this work can be applied to a wide range of intelligent pervasive consumer products and services including robotic vacuum cleaners and personal security robots1.