Smart Device & Mobile Emerging Technologies from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Mobile Business Rankings & Analysis

The first module “Smart Device & Mobile Services Rankings & Products” focuses on the future trend of smart devices and mobile services based on rankings and products, which is followed by three important forecasts. First, a forecast of the global telecom terminal market (based on mobile devices, base stations, and telecom services are provided) is provided. Second, a forecast of the global wearable device market (based on smart watches, smart glasses, fitness bands and other wearable devices) is provided. Third, a forecast of the global mobile network equipment market (based on base-stations, small cells, core network, and the combined total value) is provided. In order to explain the forecast evaluation scale, the definition of CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is introduced in the market analysis. Next, a market analysis of the global market share based on market share by country (e.g., USA, China, India, UK, and Brazil), smartphone venders (e.g., Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and OPPO), and global mobile subscription technology (e.g., LTE, GSM, HSPA, CDMA, and TD-SCMA) are explained. This is followed by a forecast of the global mobile application market based on APP (Application) download, in-APP payment, and in-APP advertisements. Through the lectures of this module, the current status and future trends of the mobile smart device world are fully revealed.

Smart Devices

The second module “Smart Devices” focuses on the core technology and components of the world’s most popular smartphones (i.e., the Samsung Galaxy Note8 and and Apple iPhone X) and smart watches (i.e., Samsung Gear S3 and the Apple Watch Series 3). The state-of-the-art smartphones’ camera, battery, CPUs, GPUs, chipsets (e.g., Samsung Exynos Octa 8895, ARM big.LITTLE, Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835, Apple A11 Bionic, Kryo 280, Adreno 540, Monsoon, and Mistral) characteristics are introduced, followed by a description of the functionality of thread based multi-core scheduling and processing, and relations with the smartphone OS (Operating System) Android and iOS. Then the IP (International Protection Marking) code that is used in protection level marking against solids and liquids of smart devices is described. To better understand the current technology level of CPUs, GPUs, and chip sets, the fundamentals of Moore’s law along with state-of-the-art 10 nm semiconductor technology and benefits of smaller transistors are explained. In addition, a description of the smart device sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyro (gyroscope sensor), heart rate sensor, optical IR (infrared) light sensor, barometer, and pressure altimeters) along with the GPS (Global Positioning System) and A-GPS (Assisted GPS, based on MSA (Mobile Station Assisted) and MSB (Mobile Station Based)) operations are described. The lectures then cover the smart device display technology, which include shatterproof glass, gorilla glass, oleophobic coating, AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED, Super AMOLED Plus, HD Super AMOLED, Full HD Super AMOLED, WQHD Super AMOLED, and other display technologies. The module then describes the characteristics of wireless charging technologies, including WPC (Wireless Power Consortium), Qi, PMA (Power Matters Alliance), A4WP (Alliance for Wireless Power), and the AirFuel Alliance. Through the lectures of this module, the level of the state-of-the-art smart devices, internal components, and performance limits are introduced.

Mobile Communications

The third module “Mobile Communications” focuses on the evolution and core technologies of mobile communications and the corresponding mobile phones. The lectures introduce the differences in the generations of the mobile communications evolution, starting with the 1G (first generation) AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) analog wireless mobile technology. Then the beginning of the digital revolution in mobile communications is introduced in 2G (second generation) technology based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), IS-95, and cdmaOne (which is based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology). As GSM technology dominated the 2G mobile communications world, the key GSM features including GSM voice calls, data transfer, SMS (Short Message Service), and SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card technology are introduced. Then the evolution to 3G (third generation) mobile communications technology is introduced based on UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), EV-DO Rev. A, HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access), and EV-DO Rev. B (Evolution-Data Optimized Revision B) standards. Next, the current state-of-the-art in mobile communications, which is the 4G (fourth generation) technology based on LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) is introduced.

4G & 5G Mobile Technology

The fourth module “4G & 5G Mobile Technologies” focuses on the architecture, core technologies, and features of mobile communications 4G (fourth generation) and 5G (fifth generation) systems. In module 4, a special focus on 4G and 5G systems is made because this is where all the current investments, research, development, and new services are being made. First, the current state-of-the-art 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) technology performance requirements are introduced focusing on the data rates, spectral efficiency, spectrum flexibility, performance at cell edges, and number of simultaneously active subscribers. Next, the LTE architecture based on the EPS (Evolved Packet System), which includes the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) and E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN), and the UE (User Equipment) is described. EPC elements (i.e., P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway), S-GW (Serving Gateway), and MME (Mobility Management Entity)) and the features of LTE core technologies (e.g., seamless HO (Handover), packet forwarding, MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service), ICIC (Inter-Cell Interference Coordination), FFR (Fractional Frequency Reuse), DSA (Dynamic Subcarrier Assignment), CoMP (Coordinated Multi Point), CA (Carrier Aggregation), multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology), NOMA (Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access), advanced D2D (Device to Device), MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)) are introduced. Then the features of LTE HetNet (Heterogeneous Network), Small Cells, and SON (Self-Organizing Network) that include self-configuration and self-healing technology are explained. Next, the 5G standardization of ITU-R (ITU Radiocommunication Sector) IMT-2020 and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) 5G NR are introduced and the differences in IMT 2020 5G target performance specifications compared to IMT Advanced based 4G LTE-A and IMT 2000 based 3G technology are discussed, followed by a description of the 3GPP 5G NR usage scenarios eMBB (enhanced Mobile BroadBand), URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication), and mMTC (massive Machine Type Communication). The 5G network architecture is introduced based on the NR (New Radio) access network and NGC (Next Generation Core), as well as the types of 5G deployment scenarios based on various NSA (Non-standalone) options. Then the flat, flexible, distributed, and sliced 5G network characteristics along with the enabling SDN (Software-Defined Network) and NFV (Network Function Virtualization) programmable technology is described. In addition, the advantages of 5G network slicing technology used to divide the 5G physical network into multiple virtual E2E (End-to-End) networks, which are logically isolated service dedicated network technology are introduced.

Smartphone OSs

The fifth module “Smartphone OSs” focuses on the characteristics and operations of the iOS and Android smartphone OSs (Operating Systems). First, the characteristics of the iOS evolution and features of the iOS 1, 1.1, 1.1.3, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 3.2, 4, 4.2.5, 4.3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 operating systems are introduced. Then the characteristics of the iOS and SDK (Software Development Kit) architecture, which consists of the Cocoa touch layer, Media services layer, Core services layer, Core OS layer, and the Kernel and Device Drivers are described. Secondly, the Android evolution versions with API (Application Programming Interface) levels are introduced, which include the Android 1.0 Alpha (API level 1), 1.1 Beta (API level 2), 1.5 Cupcake (API level 3), 1.6 Donut (API level 4) , 2.0 Eclair (API level 5), 2.2~2.2.3 Froyo (API level 8), 2.3~2.3.2 Gingerbread (API level 9), 3.0 Honeycomb (API level 11), 4.0~4.0.2 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.1 Jelly Bean (API level 16), 4.4 KitKat (API level 19), 5.0~5.0.2 Lollipop (API level 21), 5.1 Lollipop (API level 22), 6.0 Marshmallow (API level 23), 7.0~7.1 Nougat (API level 24 / 25), and 8.0 Oreo (API level 26). Then the characteristics of the Android OS, middleware, and key applications are introduced. The description on the Android architecture covers all parts, which include the application, JAVA API framework, native C/C++ libraries, Android runtime, HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), and the Linux kernel. Among the Android sublayers, the features of the HAL is further described, which includes details on the standard interfaces for the higher-level Java API, framework to use the device’s hardware & processors, multiple library modules, and the customized support for hardware components along with the Bluetooth and camera module. In addition, the features of the Android’s Linux kernel that include the Linux kernel drivers, Android shared memory, power management, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile communications components are introduced.

Smartphone & Mobile Network Project

The sixth and last module “Smartphone & Mobile Network Project” focuses on methods and apps to analyze the components of smartphones and check the mobile network. In project 1, the Smartphone project, the status and components of both Android and iPhone smartphones are tested. Because the projects require for both Android and iPhone smartphones to be tested, the learner may need to borrow a smartphone (the type which you do not have) for a while to do the experiments, and after the project is done, erase the installed app(s) (and maybe recharge it) before returning the borrowed smartphone. In the Smartphone project, the smartphone types and the specs of the CPU, SoC, number of cores, memory types & sizes of each smartphone need to be reported and will be Peer Review evaluated. In project 2, the Mobile Network project, the details of the connected mobile network are to be observed. During the Mobile Network project, the learner will measure the PCI, RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, RSSNR, ASU, and CQI values, and also find a location of where the largest number of Neighbor Base Stations, and how many were there, and report all details for Peer Review evaluation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Addresses the practical use of mobile technology in personal and professional settings

Taught by Jong-Moon Chung, founder of a successful tech-related business

Helps develop foundational knowledge of smartphone and smartwatch technology and components

Coursework involves real-world application and analysis of smartphone and mobile network components

Covers industry trends and future forecasts for the mobile communications and smart device space

Reviews summary

Well-received smartphone course

Learners say this course is largely positive with more than 97% of reviews being either 4- or 5-stars. Engaging assignments and a knowledgeable instructor who explains concepts in a clear and comprehensive way are often cited. Many students mention that they found the course content informative with cutting-edge information, although some have indicated that the content could be outdated.

Learners say that they found the content to be informative and generally well-structured.

"Very informative with cutting edge information on the future of Smart Devices and Mobile Technologies."

"The course design is interactive, easy & self understanding.Overall course topics are excellent, including latest technology which will release soon."

Professor Jong-Moon Chung is knowledgeable and experienced.

"Prof Jong-Moon Chung is a very meticulous instructor, enjoyed every class."

"The tutor in this lecture by all efforts made it possible to easily understand the course content with well detailed explanations and illustrations."

"Very good instructor very clear and fluent their english."

Learners say the instructor has a clear and organized teaching style.

"The course is very good, the concepts given by the speaker are very clear and didactic."

"I found this course really enjoyable and helpful...And turns out it's quite interesting, I enjoyed learning the mechanism of how wireless technologies work, the diagramtic representations are very helpful to visualize the same."

Some learners have indicated that the exams could be difficult.

"Altough it was very good and informative, it can be hard to follow due to the large ammount of abbreviations, standards and values that are mentioned."

Some learners have indicated that the content could be outdated.

"The course information is out of date."

"Very good instructor very clear and fluent their english. The content in some chapers is updated to 2017 2018 and i am doing this in 2020 so perhaps you might consider to update to 2020 if possible."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Smart Device & Mobile Emerging Technologies with these activities:

Watch tutorials on smartphone hardware and software

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Watching tutorials on smartphone hardware and software will help the student to understand the different components of a smartphone.

Browse courses on Smart Devices

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Identify reputable sources for tutorials on smartphone hardware and software
Watch the tutorials and take notes
Apply the knowledge gained from the tutorials to real-world situations

Practice writing code for mobile app development

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Strengthen your skills in mobile app development by practicing writing code.

Browse courses on Mobile Application Development

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Find a coding exercise or tutorial.
Follow the instructions and write the code.
Test your code to make sure it works as expected.
Repeat steps 1-3 until you are comfortable with the material.

Test knowledge of core mobile communication generations

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Review the evolution and core technologies of mobile communications and corresponding mobile phones to prepare for the upcoming sections on 4G and 5G mobile technologies.

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Recall information about the 1G AMPS analog wireless mobile technology.
Summarize the introduction of the digital revolution in mobile communications based on GSM, IS-95, and cdmaOne.
Enumerate and describe key GSM features.
Explain the evolution to 3G mobile communications technology based on UMTS, WCDMA, and other standards.
Describe the current state-of-the-art in mobile communications, 4G technology based on LTE and LTE-A.

Eight other activities

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Show all 11 activities

Practice mobile communications related numeric problems

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Practice numeric problems associated with mobile communications to reinforce the theory from the course.

Browse courses on Mobile Communications

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Identify the relevant concepts and equations regarding the specific topic
Collect the needed parameters and values from the problem
Solve the problem by applying the corresponding equations

Present the results of the smartphone project to a peer group

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The student will present the results of their smartphone project to a peer group to get feedback on their work.

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Prepare a presentation on the results of the smartphone project
Present the project to a peer group
Answer questions from the peer group
Reflect on the feedback received

Attend a mobile app development workshop

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Gain practical experience in mobile application development by attending a workshop.

Browse courses on Mobile Application Development

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Find a mobile app development workshop.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Complete any assignments or projects that are part of the workshop.

Practice mobile communications related coding problems

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Practice coding problems by implementing parts of network protocols or system features to strengthen the understanding of mobile communications.

Browse courses on Mobile Communications

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Identify the specific coding problem and requirement
Plan a solution to approach the coding problem
Code the solution
Test the code for correctness

Practice exercises on mobile communications network optimization

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Practice exercises on mobile communications network optimization will help the student to understand the different techniques used to optimize mobile communications networks.

Browse courses on Mobile Communications

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Identify the different techniques used to optimize mobile communications networks
Apply the techniques to real-world scenarios
Evaluate the results of the optimization

Practice exercises on mobile security

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Practice exercises on mobile security will help the student to understand the different threats to mobile devices and how to protect against them.

Browse courses on Smart Devices

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Identify the different threats to mobile devices
Apply the techniques to real-world scenarios
Evaluate the results of the protection

Tutorial: Create a Blockchain-based Mobile Payment Application

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Deepen your understanding of mobile application development by creating a blockchain-based mobile payment application.

Browse courses on Blockchain

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Find a tutorial on creating a blockchain-based mobile payment application.
Follow the tutorial to create the application.
Test the application on a mobile device.
Write a blog post or article about your experience creating the application.

Write a paper on the history of mobile operating systems

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The student will research the history of mobile operating systems to gain insights into their evolution and the motivations behind their development.

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Gather information about the history of mobile operating systems from reputable sources
Organize the information into a logical structure
Write the paper in a clear and concise manner
Proofread the paper for errors
Submit the paper

Career center

Learners who complete Smart Device & Mobile Emerging Technologies will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Engineer

As a Software Engineer you will be designing, developing, testing, and maintaining the software systems used in our modern day world. One of the biggest impacts of your work will be on devices such as smartphones, without which the world would quickly cease to function as we know it. This course covers in depth the components and operations of smartphones and the mobile networks that connect them to us. With this knowledge, you will be better able to develop new products and services that take advantage of mobile technology. This course would be particularly relevant for those interested in careers specializing in mobile devices, as it covers cutting-edge technologies such as 4G and 5G mobile communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Electrical Engineer

As an Electrical Engineer, you will design and develop a wide range of electronic devices and systems, including smartphones! While this course does not focus heavily on the design and development process itself, it does cover in great depth the components and operations of smartphones and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to work with mobile devices and to integrate mobile technology into other systems. This course would be particularly relevant for those interested in careers focused on mobile device hardware, as it covers cutting-edge technologies such as 4G and 5G mobile communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Mobile App Developer

As a Mobile App Developer you will be designing, developing, testing, and maintaining mobile applications. These applications are used on smartphones and other mobile devices to access information, play games, and perform a wide variety of other tasks. This course covers in depth the components and operations of smartphones and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to develop mobile applications that take advantage of the latest technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Developer

Telecommunications Engineer

As a Telecommunications Engineer you will be tasked with the development and maintenance of the infrastructure used to transmit voice, data, and other signals over long distances. A large part of this is now mobile communications. This course covers in depth the components and operations of mobile devices and the networks that connect them. It also provides a solid foundation in mobile communications technologies. With this knowledge, you will be better able to design, develop, and maintain the mobile networks of the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Telecommunications Engineer

Network Architect

As a Network Architect you will be designing, developing, and maintaining the networks that connect computers, servers, and other devices. This includes designing and managing the security of these networks. Smartphones are now an integral part of most networks, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to design, develop, and maintain networks that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Architect

Computer Systems Analyst

As a Computer Systems Analyst you will be designing, developing, testing, and maintaining computer systems. These systems are used in businesses and organizations of all sizes to manage information, process data, and perform a wide variety of other tasks. Smartphones are now an integral part of most computer systems, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to design, develop, and maintain computer systems that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst

Information Systems Manager

As an Information Systems Manager you will be responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of information systems in businesses and organizations of all sizes. This includes managing the hardware, software, and networks that make up these systems. Smartphones are now an integral part of most information systems, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to manage information systems that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Systems Manager

Project Manager

As a Project Manager you will be responsible for planning, organizing, and managing projects. This includes managing the people, resources, and budget for a project. Smartphones are now an integral part of most projects, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to manage projects that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Product Manager

As a Product Manager you will be responsible for managing the development and marketing of a product. This includes defining the product's features, setting its price, and marketing it to customers. Smartphones are now an integral part of most products, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to manage products that take advantage of mobile technology.

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Technical Writer

As a Technical Writer you will be responsible for writing and editing technical documentation. This documentation includes user manuals, technical reports, and training materials. Smartphones are now an integral part of most industries, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to write and edit technical documentation that helps users understand and use smartphones and mobile technology.

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Sales Engineer

As a Sales Engineer you will be responsible for selling and supporting technical products and services. This includes working with customers to understand their needs and recommending the best products and services for them. Smartphones are now an integral part of most businesses, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to sell and support products and services that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Engineer

Quality Assurance Analyst

As a Quality Assurance Analyst you will be responsible for testing and verifying the quality of software and hardware products. This includes testing for bugs, performance issues, and security vulnerabilities. Smartphones are now an integral part of most products, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to test and verify the quality of products that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Market Researcher

As a Market Researcher you will be responsible for conducting research to understand the needs of a market. This research is used to develop new products and services and to improve existing ones. Smartphones are now an integral part of most markets, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to conduct research to understand the needs of markets that use mobile technology.

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Data Analyst

As a Data Analyst you will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This data is used to make informed decisions about a business. Smartphones are now an integral part of most businesses, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to collect, analyze, and interpret data about mobile technology use.

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Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst you will be responsible for analyzing and defining the needs of a business and recommending solutions. This includes working with stakeholders to understand their needs and developing plans to improve business processes. Smartphones are now an integral part of most businesses, and this course covers their components, operations, and the mobile networks that connect them. With this knowledge, you will be better able to analyze and define the needs of businesses that take advantage of mobile technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst