Application design & other odds'n'sods

Upgrade path & future of PDA devices

A question that each organisation faces when implementing a mobility platform is deciding what is the most suitable upgrade path. In all likelyhood, the answer to this question will influence the type of mobile device.  This is a question that our team has been grappling with over the last few weeks.

Currnet Hardware Platform
Our client is running a mobile application on a PDA (i-mate PDA2k EVDO).  The model is of significance as it has been discontinued, and the network to which it connects to is being upgraded to HSDPA, rendering the devices useless for any in field connectivity.  The other point is that the current form factor chosen is a PDA.  Choosing a PDA as the form factor, like it or not, automatically locks you into an operating system.   Unlike a PC, with a PDA you cannot simply install future releases of the OS onto your device.  

Device Features
Four key questions to ask:

1.       Do I require in field connectivity?  If so:

a.       What coverage do I need?

For this client in field connectivity is required, not just in CBD Melbourne, but in regional and country Victoria, on land and water.

b.       What data transfer mechism best suits the type of use and amount of data being transferred?

Large amounts of data are required to be transferred, text and images.  HSDPA or WiFi 802.11b/g best suited.

2.       What is the minimum screen size required from a usability perspective?

Our clients context of use is outside, typically on water where glare, salt water and motion all play a factor.  A minimum screen size is 3.5”.

3.       What is the appropriate amount of memory (RAM more important than ROM), and CPU?

128mb RAM, 500mhz or greater CPU.

4.       What is the preferred operating system?

Windows Mobile 5 vs Windows Mobile 6  http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/attachment/1904298.ashx

Based on the answers to these questions the bredth of choice is limited.  After conducting a search for suitable devices it was interesting to note the following:

§          Only 4 devices (11%) provide mobile data connectivity which have a 3.5" or greater screen.  All devices running WM5 not WM6. 

§          No WM6 devices currently support a screen size larger than 3".

§          Data suggests that WM6 devices which provide data connectivity are limited to screen size of 2.8".  More value placed on providing a more conveinient, smaller form factor than providing additional screen size.  The traditional PDA screen size of 3.5” is limited, and users are forced to consider a different form factor such as a UMPC.

§          Majority of device manufactures have product availability in Australia.

§          No PDA device currently on the market which has device features.

For a copy of the PDA comparison spreadsheet send me an email at pdaulerio@optusnet.com.au.

Useful Links

http://pdadb.net/ - Comprehensive listing of PDA and SmartPhone devices including specifications currently on the market as well as a listing of devices pending release.

http://www.umpcportal.com/journal/ - Comprehensive listing of UMPC devices, including site rating.

 

Understand your mobile workforce

Typically an organisations foray into the mobility space starts with management deciding they need / demand access to email and calendar 24x7 from a PDA type device.  This typically results in a Blackberry solution limiting what applications can be built and deployed to it (more on form factor selection in a future blog).  

 

Planning is typically kept short, with insufficient time spent understanding different contexts of use which ultimately shape the mobility solution(s) required.

 

Take the time to understand your mobile workforce.   Survey and speak to your workers to appreciate each of their specific requirements.  From here a profile will start to emerge of the different worker types requiring mobility in your organisation.  Here’s what we did:

§          Collected, analysed and collated feedback from our customers

o         surveyed user base (800 staff)

o         conducted one on one interviews (50 staff)

§          Collected mandatory and preferred customer requirements for “desired” services

§          Built a profile of remote access users based on frequency of use, type of use, and application / information requirements

§          Assessed the usability and accessibility characteristics of existing services provided

§          Identified potential external influences which might affect the future of the services provided

§          Identified gaps in current services, processes and policies

From the data gathered we identified eight primary modes of access and twenty-four unique user profiles, much more than we expected or thought possible.  The other finding worth noting was that 72% of our staff worked in either 2 or 3 different modes to perform their job role. 

Of the eight primary modes use, two had specific mobility requirements that needed a small form factor solution, such as a tablet, PDA, or UMPC.

Road Warriors

“I work in the field and I need my office documents & biz apps with me”

 

Road Warrior workers describe staff that spend up to 5 days a week in the field (metro, regional & country), performing business functions and require application and corporate environment access during the day in either a disconnected or connected state.

This type of extreme mobility is conducive to tablets, slates, and small form factor devices (PDA's, and UMPC’s) and is typically indicative of wireless connectivity requirements.

Characteristics include:

§          Located anywhere in state, visiting multiple sites/locations in one day

§          No data point/network access available

§          Collecting structured business data in the field

§          Away from primary office location for extended periods (multiple days)

§          High duration and frequency of remote usage limited to after hours and weekends

 

Mobile Workers

“I'm in a constant state of travel”

 

Describes staff who are away from their office environment (or any network connectivity), either in City, Metro, Regional or Country for a significant and critical duration of time during which it is essential to have direct communication (email & calendar) and access to information (MS office documents).

Characteristics include:

§          Executive staff away from primary office for most part of their day with no data point or network access but access to desk/pc

§          Must be contactable to respond to time critical issues

§          Perform managerial tasks (authorisation/approval/document authoring)

 

Future postings will focus on delivering mobile solutions to staff fitting the Road Warrior profile.

 

The quest for enterprise class mobility solutions

For the last couple of years I’ve spent part of my working life designing and writing specifications for mobile applications.  As dealing with any emerging technology, the road to success has been far from smooth, in fact painful at times, no make that excruciating!

 

Whilst on this ride I’ve learnt that every decision in relation to mobility needs to be carefully considered and its implications measured and calculated as much as humanly possible.  Compared to designing, for example, a J2EE application you don’t have the luxury of oodles of processing power, vast amounts of memory, and a complete arsenal of design and development tools.  The result of an unconsidered decision can mean the difference between delivering a successful solution vs. an expensive prototype.

In researching to learn from other people’s experiences I’ve found little documented that covers the spectrum of what should be considered – from choosing a suitable form factor, to knowing what frameworks and methodologies to follow.

So due to the wonder of technology, and the Vox crew, I’ve decided to setup my own blog, to share first hand my experiences and findings that might help some of you who planning to embark on your own mobility journey. 

If your a little impatient like me and cannot be bothered reading through all the posts (or most likely waiting for me to write them), I’m happy to have a chat, drop me a line at pdaulerio@optusnet.com.au.