Characterize Various Mobile Devices

Question 1

What is AR and its applications?

Answer 1

Augmented Reality

• Uses device camera to overlay data or visuals over images and video of the real world.
• Can be used to translate signs in foreign languages, catch pokemon or try out furniture in your living room.

Question 2

What are the differences between a smartphone and a tablet?

Answer 2

• Smartphones are natively able to make phone calls over analog cellular network. Tablets can make calls but require an installed app that communicates over data networks
• Screen size, with tablets typically being considerably larger

Question 3

What is an ARM processor?

Answer 3

Advanced RISC Machine

Any processor produced under a license from ARM Holdings

Question 4

What considerations need to be made when choosing a smartphone?

Answer 4

• Application: what is the primary use of the phone
• Camera: If high quality pictures are needed a phone with a high quality camera is useful
• Headphone jack: some phones do not have these and only allow bluetooth headphones which would be an additional cost
• Charging: Some phones like Apple use proprietary charging cables which can be expensive or difficult to replace. Androids use some USB type which are very common
• App Market: If a particular application is needed for a specific purpose, that application may not be available in the app market supported by your device. (if you have android but the app is exclusively apple)

Question 5

What is wearable tech and what are its applications?

Answer 5

Refers to electronic devices that are worn on the body. Can refer to smart watches, pedometers, heartbeat sensors and more.

• In the case of smart watches, simplifies certain smartphones functions like viewing alerts or calling as the phone does not need to be removed from pocket or bag.
• Most wearable tech features health and wellness functions, allowing for step counting, sleep tracking, etc.

Question 6

How do mobile devices fit in to business endeavors?

Answer 6

Not only do they improve connectivity with functions like calling, text, chat and social, they can be more convenient in applications where the user needs to be more mobile.

Question 7

What is RISC its defining features

Answer 7

Reduced Instruction Set Computing

• The R in ARM processor
• Reduced computing power compared to Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processors
• Fewer transistors used resulting in cheaper cost, lower power consumption and heat output
• Ideal for mobile devices

Question 8

What are the differences between a tablet and a laptop?

Answer 8

• tablets designed to be more lightweight and mobile
• tablets typically touchscreen with a virtual keyboard
• tablets typically run a mobile OS on an ARM chipset
• tablets are primarily wireless, using WiFi, cellular or both. Rarely a LAN option

Question 9

What is VR and its applications?

Answer 9

Stands for Virtual Reality

• Very immersive. Head tracking tech allows user to experience 3D virtual environments in a way similar to real life.
• Can be effective for training, simulating common scenarios for a task or job

Question 10

What architectures use CISC processors?

Answer 10

x86 and x64 architectures typically used by laptops and desktops

Question 11

Where were ARM processors originally used?

Answer 11

In Apple PDAs

Question 12

How do mobile devices fit in to technical support?

Answer 12

Mobile devices such as phones or tablets are pretty ubiquitous now and many require support of those devices, be it management, configuration or repair.

Question 13

What advantages do CISC processors have over RISC? Disadvantages?

Answer 13

Advantages
- Higher processing power and increased speed
Disadvantages
- Higher power requirements and heat output