Contemporary Issues in Handheld Computing Research

Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in today’s society. However, mobile users are no longer satisfied with simple phones but instead expect ever more powerful functions to be available from their mobile devices. Advanced phones known as smartphones allow mobile users to perform a wide variety of advanced handheld functions such as browsing the mobile Internet or finding a nearby theater showing a specific movie. The design and development of these new, improved handheld functions require the help of handheld computing research. This article introduces handheld computing research using three themes: (i) mobile handheld devices, (ii) mobile computing, and (iii) current issues in handheld computing research. Information about other handheld topics of interest to researchers is given in the last section. DOI: 10.4018/jhcr.2010090901 2 International Journal of Handheld Computing Research, 1(1), 1-23, January-March 2010 Copyright © 2010, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. such as PC-like functions (Gartner, 2009b), and 1.22 billion mobile phones (Gartner, • 2009c). The number of smartphones shipped has increased rapidly in recent years and is now only slightly under half of the number of PCs shipped. Analysts expect that the number of smartphones shipped will surpass the number of PCs shipped in the near future. Desktop computing research has been extensively studied, but handheld computing research is fairly new and is unfamiliar territory for most people. It involves a wide variety of subjects including: Android systems, computing, applications, • and programming BREW systems, computing, applications, • and programming Browsing the mobile Web • Client-side mobile-commerce computing, • applications, and programming Context/location-based services, comput• ing, and applications Embedded systems, computing, and • applications Energy saving • Handheld components such as micro• browsers, cameras and scanners; data synchronization such as infrared and Bluetooth wireless communication; and batteries Handheld devices, architecture, and • systems Handheld hardware and software • integration Handheld input and output methods, com• ponents and peripherals Handheld specifications, standards, guide• lines, software, and tools iPhone systems, computing, applications, • and programming Java ME systems, computing, applica• tions, and programming Mobile advertising and sales • Mobile and wireless networks • Mobile commerce applications and • systems Mobile commerce, business, and banking • Mobile instructions and classrooms • Mobile inventory management and re• source planning Mobile messaging, emailing, broadcast• ing, and blogging Mobile offices, management, and services • Mobile semantic and intelligent Web • applications Mobile social networks and virtual • communities Mobile traffic, travel, and weather reports • Mobile Web 2.0 and further developments • Mobile Web and data mining • Mobile Web and Internet access • Mobile/handheld algorithms and • methodologies Mobile/handheld data management • Mobile/handheld entertainment and • gaming Mobile/handheld human computer in• terface and user interface design and implementation Mobile/handheld operating systems and • platforms Mobile/handheld programming languages • and environments Mobile/handheld security and payment • methods Mobile/handheld/embedded database • systems Palm OS systems, computing, applica• tions, and programming Remote intranet access • RIM systems, computing, applications, • and programming Server-side mobile-commerce computing, • applications, and programming Symbian systems, computing, applica• tions, and programming Windows Mobile systems, computing, ap• plications, and programming 21 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the publisher's webpage: www.igi-global.com/article/contemporary-issues-handheldcomputing-research/39050