Mobile technology allows people to access information and connect from anywhere — at any time. Smartphones, tablets and some laptop computers fit into this category, as do handheld devices such as GPS devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Mobile technology has transformed how we consume media, allowing us to watch movies or read articles on the go. These devices also enable telecollaboration, where people work together from different locations and share the same data.
Cellular network technology has some interesting possibilities for embedded control systems. Because cellphone networks are available almost everywhere, cellular technology allows an embedded device to connect with the outside world over wireless connections that don’t require long wires. This is especially useful in industrial applications where the device is likely to be moving around or in an environment that prevents easy access to wiring.
A cellphone sends data using radio signals – these are the same waves that were first transmitted by Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi in 1890 and 1894, respectively. These radio signals travel through a series of cellular towers before reaching the cellphone. The phone then communicates with the cellular tower that is closest to it, so as the device moves around the city, the towers it connects with change.
Smartphones use a similar radio network to transmit data, but add more features on top of voice and text communication. They can have apps for games, navigation and utilities. Some smartphones even offer augmented reality, which overlays virtual objects on the real-world image. The next generation of mobile technology, 5G, will increase speed and capacity to further enhance the capabilities of these devices.