Mobile Business Module Guide 07

Written by: Jonathan Briggs

February 1, 2007 [3647 views]

Goals of the Module

1. To provide students with an overview of the applications, opportunities and impacts of mobile information systems.
2. To explore the current and emerging technologies that create platforms for mobile content, services and applications including GSM, WiFi and Bluetooth
3. To examine the business models emerging in the mobile marketplace.

By the end of the module each student should be able to

1. Describe the characteristics, benefits and drawbacks of a range of competing mobile technologies
2. Select appropriate mobile technologies and providers for a range of application areas
3. Describe current and emerging applications in education, entertainment, retail and other areas
4. Make recommendations to commercial, government and other organisations as to their use of mobile technologies and the likely impacts on their businesses
5. Outline the design of a mobile application including hardware and software components, architecture and required network of partner relationships

Registration

You must register your involvement with this module through the online registration form. This will make communication and alerting much easier.

Teaching approach

The module will be run as a series of lectures with accompanying online activities, podcasts and discussions. Online surveys will be used during the module to test understanding and provide feedback.

Indicative lectures

The module has a single lecture slot on Fridays. Additional discussions may be planned if timetabling and space allow.

1. The Mobile Market
2. Mobile Devices: the phone
3. Other Mobile Devices including Bluetooth and WiFi
4. Location including GPS
5. Presence
6. SMS and SMS based services
7. WAP 2.0
8. Mobile commerce
9. Mobile services
10. RFID
11. Mobile trends

Indicative activities

1. Evaluate your mobile
2. Test location based services
3. Design a WAP 2.0 page
4. Research an application
5. Research alternative technologies
6. Test SMS based services
7. Evaluating your case study
8. Mock MCQ questions
9. Mock Long Answer questions

Each of these activities will involve research or practical activity. Notes should be made on these activities and answers feed back through an online survey form.

The module leader will provide rapid group feedback to allow you to evaluate your own work. This will draw on comments and questions asked in your response so feel free to ask as many questions as you like. The module is not able to provide individual feedback on these exercises so you should keep a copy of your own work to allow you to evaluate it against the group feedback.

Please Note: This form has been received successfully if you reach a Thank You page. The module leader is unable to verify the submission of individual items of work until the end of the module. If you have not reached a Thank You page then resubmit the work via the online form.

Assessment

Please read this very carefully.

The module will be assessed by examination only (single 2 hour exam). The exam will consist of 20 Multiple Choice Questions (40%) and short answer questions based on a report that you will prepare for the exam (50%). There will be NO negative marking. The remaining 10% will be for participation in the online activities.

You will NOT be expected to memorise or to copy large sections of your report onto the exam paper but re-present key ideas in answer to specific questions.
You will work in a small group to complete the activity (Groups must not be larger than 3 people). If you choose to work alone then you should still complete all the deliverables as outlined below.

The task this year will be to research mobile applications within a specific domain such as Health, Education, Retail or Entertainment and write a proposal covering the technical, business and creative opportunities for an established business or organization within this area. You will not be expected to implement your ideas.

Full details of the assignment will be posted separately.

Please Note: Selecting, researching and drafting your case study report is part of the activity and the module leader is unable to provide individual feedback on the suitability of your choice on provide comments on drafts of your report (as this would be unfair to other students).

Examination dates

The date will be advised by the examination office.

Indicative reading

The focus of this module is on the emerging mobile marketplace. You should try and keep up to date with what is happening through newspapers and online news sources.

You should also try and read some of the books on the booklist for mobile business.

Contacting the module leader

I get too much email as it is and prefer phone calls and text messages to which I will always make an effort to reply. My telephone number will be advertised during the lecture sessions.

If you must send me an email please include a signature that includes your name, Knumber, a (mobile) phone number and a good time to contact you. I would recommend that you set up a permanent email signature so that all of your messages contain this information.

Please note that I now have a very aggressive spam filter and messages with subject lines that are blank or similar to “Please read” or “Important” or “Advice wanted” will never make it into my inbox.

Online support

This course will make extensive use of online resources (and SMS) for

• copies of lecture notes
• allowing you to comment
• providing progress/feedback surveys
• asking questions
• new books and links
• notification of changes of schedule

Please make sure that you check www.jonathanbriggs.com regularly

Improvements since last year

1. Separation of mobile business and mobile technology to allow students to take both modules
2. Introduction of Podcasts (including industry interviews)
3. Increase in the number of online activities to help reinforce lecture content through practical activity

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