EDL 615

E Readers provide a digital reading experience similar to printed text. The intent of these devices is to store, literally, thousands of books in a compact easily accessable format. Many E Readers are equiped with wifi, allowing users to access and purchase new material with in seconds. Some digital book readers are loaded with multi media applications such as music players, picture viewers, video players, and web browsers.

Examples:
    Amazon Kindle
    Barnes and Noble Nook
    Sony Reader

Netbooks are essentially scaled down versions of notebook (laptop) computers. These computers are small, light, and cheap. Many of these general use computers are designed to use web based productivity applications due to a lack of peripherals (cd/ dvd drives). Built in wifi and the ability to access 3g and 4g cellular networks (if purchased through a wireless carrier) add to the appeal of these ultra portable devices.

Examples:
   HP/ Compaq MINI
   Acer Aspire One
   ASUS EEEPC

A tablet computer is a mobile personal computing device that utilizes a touch screen as it primary source of user input. Like Netbook PCs, tablets can also be purchased from wireless carriers for 3g/ 4g cellular access in addition or a standard wifi connection. Tablet PCs offer many of the top rated operating system options for users such as Android, Windows, and Apple. Android and Apple tablets utilize "markets" to download recreational and productivity applications. Tablet PCs are multi functional as applications allow them to be turned into ereaders (Starbook s, Kindle, Nook), media players (IPOD, Pandora, Slacker, Youtube), and word processors (Think Free Office, Open office mobile) in addition to thousands of other functions added by downloadable applications.

Examples:
   Apple IPad
   Samsung Galaxy
   HP Slate

Smart phones seem to the the new industry standard for current cell phone companies. Technically a smart phone is a mobile device with advanced computing and connectivity power. Many of these devices are truly hand held computers as they offer nearly parallel functionality as PCs in many application realms. Current smartphones are powered by Android, Apple, BlackBerry, or Windows operating systems. These devices are able to connect to the internet through 3g or 4g cellular connections to browse webpages, check and compose email, download videos, and connect to social networks all while retaining its main function as a mobile phone. Much like tablet PCs, these devices can access markets to increase their capabilities. With many readily available apps, cell phones can become GPS devices (Google Maps), music players (Pandora), Ebook readers (Kindle), video games (Angry Birds), or anything else one might find in the app store.

Examples:
   IPhone
   LG Ally
   Motorola Droid

Mobile computing has allowed information to be accessed at any time from any location. Devices with the ability to surf the web or compose an email live neatly in our pockets or purses 24 hours a day. This is a huge shift from the early days of limited internet access in the labs of CERN. Today website designers must account for the multitude of devices that might access their organizations content. Accomplishing this might mean developing two types of websites: standard and mobile. This means simplifying option screens, removing images, increased whitespace (to reduce clutter), creating subdomains, accounting for differing screen sizes, and relearning/modifying many other aspects of web design.

Mobile Computing

E-Book Readers

Netbooks

Tablets

Smart Phones

Mobile Computing's Impact on Website Design

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