Mobile Technology
Cellular systems are one of the most popular application areas of wireless communication. Cellular telephone systems, originally designed to carry audio signals, have today relocated to advanced mobile communication systems that allow easy internet access with portable handheld terminals.
Smartphones and tablet computers have touch screens, user-friendly graphical interfaces, built-in cameras with photo/it provides powerful multimedia capabilities such as video capture, as well as the use of internet services such as electronic mail shopping and browsing websites.
Today’s portable devices are multi-purpose devices that offer a wide range of features for both business and end users. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and smartphones (smart phones), which have become an increasingly broad category, allow users to receive web browsing, such as emails, instant messaging software, and text messaging, suitable for office applications and many more applications. Portable devices often create a plugin on the desktop computer.
Development Process of Mobile Devices
In the first generation of systems called 1G, analog data flow is used. Numerical data flow is used in second generation systems called 2G. It refers to networks that include the addition of packet-based data communication (GPRS, EDGE) in second-generation systems called 2.5G, in addition to circuit-switched systems. It is a second generation system that falls under the category of GSM [[2G] and [2.5G]]. With the third generation system called 3G, faster data transfer and more efficient use of bandwidth have been possible. With the fourth generation system called 4G, it is expected that the problems that have not been solved with 3G, especially the coverage area, will be solved.
In cellular communication, the geographic area is divided into a large number of cells, while in Figure 1’, the base station communicates wirelessly with the users assigned to it, as shown in each cell
Because 2G systems use circuit switching technology, technologies that use both circuit and packet switching are called 2.5G. The most important representative of this intermediate generation, the General Package Radio Service (General Radio Packet Service-GPRS), was launched in 2000.
The vast majority of third-generation phones also support communication standards such as WAP, Bluetooth, IrDA (Infrared Data Association). Using one of these standards, it is possible to connect to a network by connecting devices such as laptops (laptop), PC (Personal Computer), handheld computers (PDA) between mobile phones. After this connection, any kind of data exchange becomes possible.
It is the generic name given to fourth-generation mobile phone technologies. It uses a cellular network system such as similar GSM standards, but is a more efficient technology in the face of coverage and similar problems that are prominent in third-generation networks. The biggest feature of 3G and 4G is that it enables fast image transfer that is not possible with existing networks.
Cell phones (Smart phones)
Smartphones (smarth phone) is the name given to devices used as mobile phones. The classic features that the mobile phone provides are advanced mobile communication devices designed with the addition of features of PDAs, a product of the computer world. With the help of GPRS on the smartphone, you can go directly to the internet and access web pages.
Mobile computers (PDA)
Mobile computers (PDA) are devices that combine basic computer functions, phone/fax, Internet connection, network connections. A typical PDA can be used as a mobile phone, fax tool, Web explorer and personal organization device. Unlike laptops, many PDAs are pen-based and use a pen called “sylus” at the information input instead of a keyboard, and are suitable for handwriting use and recognition. Many PDAs can also be managed with voice commands.
Tablet computers
Tablet PCs are portable computers that have LCD screens on them and can be entered with pencils similar to PDAs. Thanks to the rotatable screens they have, they can be used as both laptop and tablet pc. They are small sized computers with strong technical characteristics. Tablets can be taken notes on the screen using digital pen with computers. At the same time, thanks to the voice recognition features, the text that the user says can be written.
Laptop Computers
These devices can be divided into several groups: large-sized, thin and light, like mini and semi-laptops. Some laptops are designed to withstand more impact and water than a standard device. The processor capacities of these devices are the largest among their mobile devices, such as their size and weight.
E-Reader
“e-book Reader” or English “e-book is a device called reader”. These devices, whose main purpose is to read e-books, are built for this job. The battery of these devices lasts a very long time and in addition, thanks to the non-examining screen technologies (e-ink), there is not much difference from reading a printed book. Thanks to its internal disks, it is possible to move hundreds of books.
Mobile Learning
The pace of life, combined with the need for learning, has led to the formation of the concept of mobile learning (m-learning). With the rapid developments in computer, mobile device and internet technologies, the concept of m-learning has emerged. With M-learning, place and time independent learning style is expressed. Today, mobile phone, mobile internet and mobile life concepts are on the agenda of the world of information technologies especially in recent years.
The use of mobile technologies gives education a whole new dimension and potential, enabling learning everywhere at the time of need without being aware of being a part of life. Learning is not a period-specific but a lifelong process. Both in business and personal life, these technologies and methods will contribute to the learning process and play an active role in ensuring individual development.
Mobile learning generally means that students can learn their learning needs anywhere, anytime using wireless mobile communication technology and tools (such as mobile phone, PDA, package PC) and communication with other students. Mobile learning; is learning supported by mobile devices and smart user interfaces. Nowadays, it is seen that the storage capacity and screen size of mobile devices, as well as the speed of wireless connection increases significantly. Students equipped with mobile devices can carry out their learning activities anytime and anywhere. Mobile phones are used for communicating, taking pictures, taking video clips, sending e-mails and pictures, connecting to the internet, playing games and downloading files.
Mobile learning; reaches places where traditional learning method cannot reach. Learning is more user-centric.
Mobile Learning enables learners to train with a mobile computer – PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or mobile phone without being dependent on the classroom outside. Learning using portable hardware such as laptops or tablet computers, PDAs, advanced phones or cellular phones that can receive messages is called m-learning, in other words, mobile learning.
Mobile learning, which provides education at any time and anywhere without the concept of time and space with advanced technology, is the most important progress that increases the efficiency and efficiency of distance education that is being implemented today. In today’s technology, where it is aimed to access information faster, the importance of mobile devices in our lives is increasing.
A General Classification of Mobile Learning Systems
Mobile Learning Systems; can be classified according to mobile devices, communication technologies, communication between student and teacher, location, information and access to information.
According to the type of mobile device:
Notebooks, Tablet pc, pdas, mobile phones or smartphone;
According to communication technology:
GPRS, GSM, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, infrared
According to communication between students and teachers:
Systems that support synchronous training: These systems give students the ability to communicate with teachers and other students in real time. More often for these it is preferred for voice communication and instant chat. It is more rarely used in video communication.
Systems that support asynchronous training: In these systems, students cannot communicate in real time with teachers and other students. E-mail and/or text message service is used for more asynchronous information transmission.
By location:
On-campus: Accessible to on-campus systems within the university, school and company. These systems are typically accessed from laptops or tablet PCs, and from the educational institute’s wireless network.
Off-campus: Accessible to off-campus systems outside of university, school and company. Access to these systems is accomplished through PDAs, mobile phones or smartphones, known as devices that support wireless access to long distances and have more mobility than tablet PCs and laptops.
By location:
On-campus: Accessible to on-campus systems within the university, school and company. These systems are typically accessed from laptops or tablet PCs, and from the educational institute’s wireless network.
Off-campus: Accessible to off-campus systems outside of university, school and company. Access to these systems is accomplished through PDAs, mobile phones or smartphones, known as devices that support wireless access to long distances and have more mobility than tablet PCs and laptops.
According to the information:
With the exams, training materials and administrative service of educational technologies, users and administrators must be constantly online on the internet. It is constantly online on the internet and for the use of mobile education systems and mobile devices, its users need to renew their educational materials (tests, dictionaries, etc.) such as. In addition, these systems can send short messages to all students or groups of students about the educational processes (change in the course schedule, exam notes, etc.). “Mobile Quest” is an example of these systems.
By access:
Offline (Offline): The advantages of offline training are; speed, cost and more space independence. At the moment of access to any information, it comes very quickly, as the information comes directly through the device. Also, since there is no connection, there is no connection fee and no cost. The reason why there is more space independence is that there is no problem such as coverage.
Online (Online): Online training also has significant advantages. These can also be listed as up-to-date, theoretically unlimited information and synchronous training opportunities. One of the most important issues here is to use this opportunity according to the need by doing the benefit/cost analysis in the appropriate way. However, it is expected that in the coming years, the cost of staying constantly online with mobile devices will be very low. In this way, even if it is 24 hours online, users will not pay at all if they do not exchange data.
According to e-learning standard:
Supported: Some e-learning platforms (Blackboard) can be added to this group that support e-learning standards and have a module for mobile learning.
Unsupported: (SCORM, AICC, v.b.) Today, the main part of mobile education systems (Mobile Education Platform, WELCOME, University Mobile Portal etc.) belongs to these groups.
Advantages of Mobile Learning
There are advantages of mobile learning that comes with internet-based distance learning. These;
Lifelong Learning: The fact that information has a very large volume in quantity, speed of change and transformation has increased the importance of the concept of “Life Long Learning” by a little more. Having a large volume of information makes it difficult to record it in the human mind; on the other hand, even if this recording is done, the information required by man changes as a result of constant and rapid change. At this stage, the solution is to give the easiest way to learn new information with as flexible, fast and practical tools as change.
Unaware Learning: Students learn by doing and living without realizing it. It provides the necessary information to the individual as if he were a part of life, and the individual learns the necessary information without realizing it by moving away from the boring conditions of a learning environment.
Instant Learning in Need: It allows information to be learned more easily and permanently.
Time and Space Independent Learning:
Users can study from anywhere at any time, without being tied to class time and at their own pace of learning.
Learning Adjusted by Location and Conditions: Provides the opportunity to learn more permanently with the learning opportunity adjusted according to location and conditions. The information we need at any time of the day, or in a particular season, may vary from one to the other. In the same way, where we are may require that we need different information on the same subject.