Mobile and Wearable Computing

The widespread use of mobile and wearable devices enables the implementation of novel services in applications areas like, e.g., mobile health, sustainability, smart working, and more. This course introduces the building blocks of such services and discusses the challenges that arise on the path towards their realization. Specific topics covered include: hardware platforms; programming environments and tools; the collection and processing of sensor data; the design of mobile user interfaces; local and remote data storage; privacy and security issues. In addition to theoretical concepts, the course also includes Android programming tutorials as well as tutorials showing how specific sensor data (e.g., heart rate data) can be collected, processed, and used to enable services and applications. A programming project accompanies the course and allows students to put in practice both the theoretical and programming concepts learnt in the classes and tutorials. 

After attending the course, students will be able to design and prototype services and applications for mobile and wearable devices – such as smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds, digital rings, and more. The specific focus of the course is on the use of sensors and actuators embedded on personal devices and how they can be leveraged to create novel services and applications.

In presence

The course includes instructor-led lectures, interactive discussion sessions, Android programming tutorials, and in-class programming sessions. A good knowledge of the Java programming language is strongly recommended, although not a formal prerequisite. 

The final grade will result from a combination of the grade obtained through the final exam and the grades of the assignments and the programming project carried out during the semester.