Next Generation Wireless Applications: Creating Mobile Applications in a Web 2.0 and Mobile 2.0 World, 2nd Edition

6.2 THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES

If we return to our earlier sliced view of the CS architecture, Figure 6.6 highlights some of the key challenges. At the user interface end, namely the device, the greatest challenge is for our applications to be useable. Of course, this is heavily influenced by the applications that run on them, but device design should not impede usability. In fact, it should offer opportunities to enhance usability. We shall discuss this topic in more depth when we look at devices in Chapter 10.

At the very other end of the chain, the content itself should be relevant. This is perhaps obvious, but easily forgotten. Relevancy is not just about having the right content types and genres available, it is about making sure that the user's view of the content is relevant to them. For example, when viewing train times from a particular train station, clearly the user wants to view times that are relevant to that particular time and place. It would be no use giving information that is slightly out of date, or for the wrong train station. With LBSs, ideally the user would not have to input which train station they are standing or sitting in.

Figure 6.6 Some challenges for mobile services.

For the physical link between the device and the backend, the priority is that the link should be available. As much as possible, the various limitations of the RF link should be transparent ...