Mobile Computing and Social Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Mobile Computing and Social Networks - Essay Example Quite a few market research studies also forecast a new internet revolution on mobile phones. Some of the new smart phones are more powerful than computers and operate in the ‘intimate’ space, accompanying people throughout the day (Arora 2012: 1). The convenience and capability to access data or do certain tasks with the help of applications from homes or any other public place using mobile devices even without a desktop computer has ensured a considerable increase of convenience and efficiency for businesses and people on the move The smart phone technology research and development wing has become very active in recent years and is improving day by day. Mobile networks are also creating phones that are increasingly better and tougher to intrude into or hack thus correspondingly increasing the capability of mobile devices and its applications. Effectiveness and Efficiency of Mobile Applications: A simple way to describe geolocation is to say that it is a technology that requires data from a computer or mobile phone to pinpoint a person's actual physical position. A better and succinct definition that could be used is as follows: â€Å"A geolocation system is an information technology solution that ascertains the location of an object in the physical (geo-spatial) or virtual (Internet) environment. Most often, the object is a person who wants to utilize a service based on location, while maintaining his/her privacy† (ISACA 2011: 5). This has caught up among today’s youth and social networking sites which they commonly use by providing us the ability to track or let friends know where we are, to identify certain or specific joints frequented by them and book tickets in cinema halls. These types of applications can also be accessed on a desktop system but will not be the same as when available on a mobile device. Most individuals have invariably used Google Maps to get directions from one place to another but again the thrill of using s uch an application from a mobile is unique. Depending on your movement from one place to another, the data sent and received will also change. This is possible due to the GPS (Global Positioning System) chip found inside the device. This chip uses two methods to track your position. In the first method, the chip uses satellite data to calculate a person's exact location but if there are any snags like interference or unavailability of service, then the chip uses data from cell phone towers to calculate location. If the person is driving through rain, cloud cover or even a canopy of trees, there could be a loss of communication but on a clear day, there should not be any problem. Here we should also note that if the software is very sophisticated, the accuracy provided will also be of high quality. Light should also be shed on some concerns regarding this type of application. Sharing of location could lead to personal risk. Anti-social elements like stalkers or even robbers who know that you are out may take advantage of situations. Although all these exist, many application developers are finding ways to counter such disadvantages by providing privacy preferences. If one chooses wisely, the benefits from such an application far outweigh the negative effects though it necessitates a small amount of privacy sacrifice from our side.