COMP H4025: Ubiquitous

computing

Short Title: Ubiquitous computing APPROVED

Full Title: Ubiquitous computing

Module Code: COMP H4025

ECTS credits: 5

NFQ Level: 8

Module Delivered in 1 programme(s)

Module Contributor: Simon McLoughlin

Module Description: The aim of this module is to give learners an understanding of the fundamental problems and issues
pertinent to ubiquitous computing. The module aims to provide a thorough knowledge of the technological
underpinnings of ubiquitous computing, equip students with the skills necessary to develop applications for
pervasive devices, and provide insight into research activities in this area.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to

1. Understand the core issues and problems pertaining to ubiquitous computing.

2. Clearly identify and explain the factors that differentiate pervasive development from software development for desktop
computers.
3. Understand the networking infrastructure and protocols that facilitate ubiquitous computing.
4. Be familiar with key academic research in the area and understand its contribution to ubiquitous computing.
5. Have a detailed knowledge of, and be able to discuss, the core enabling technologies of ubiqutous computing including:
wireless networking protocols; middleware and infrastructures; multimedia standards; location based computing; sensor
networks.
6. Design and implement applications for mobile devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and
other pervasive devices.
7. Discuss the likely trajectory of this technology in the future and be able to assess its impact on both the IT industry and
society in general.

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Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content

Historical Perspective and Overview

The origins of Uiquitouos Couputing and the current state of the art.

Networking infrastructure and protocols

Wireless networks for pervasive devices; Peer to peer networking; Network Security and Privacy of information

Pervasive Devices and Systems

Mobile Phones and PDAs, Enterprise Digital Assistants, Personal Navigation, Wearable Computing, Smart Homes etc.

Application Development
Software development issues pertinent to mobile/pervasive devices such as user interaction, resource and network availability, sensor
interfacing, location based services etc.

Back End Services and Middleware

Cloud Computing, Distributed Computing, Mobile Agents, Jini, Web Services for mobile devices, Security etc.

Ethics and Privacy

Awareness of the possible infringements on the basic rights of people from ubiquitous applications.

Indicative Assessment Breakdown %

Course Work Assessment % 40.00%

Final Exam Assessment % 60.00%

Course Work Assessment %

Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome % of Assessment

addressed total Date

Essay Number of Essays critically reviewing State of the Art 1,3,4,5,7 20.00 n/a

Project Mobile Application Development 2,3,6 20.00 n/a

Final Exam Assessment %

Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome % of Assessment Date

addressed total

Formal Exam End-of-Semester Final Examination 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 60.00 End-of-Semester

Indicative Reassessment Requirement

Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a
coursework element.

ITB reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

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Indicative Module Workload & Resources

Resources

Recommended Book Resources

Uwe Hansmann, Lothar Merk, Martin S. Nicklous, Thomas Stober, P. Korhonen (Foreword), P. Kahn (Foreword), N. Shelness
(Foreword), Pervasive Computing : The Mobile World [ISBN: 978-3540002185]

Frank Adelstein... [et al.] 2004, Fundamentals of mobile and pervasive computing, McGraw-Hill New York [ISBN: 978-
0071412377]

Reto Meier, Professional Android 4 Application Development, Wrox [ISBN: 9781118102275]

This module does not have any article/paper resources

Other Resources

website: IEEEIEEE-Pervasive Computing Magazine

http://www.computer.org/portal/web/perva sive/home

website: Ubiquiutous Computing organisation

http://www.ubicomp.org

website: Android Developer Network

http://developer.android.com/index.html

Module Delivered in

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery

BN_KCOMP_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing [240 ECTS credits] 7 Elective

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