Course description
What is the course about?
This course allows students/professionals with an interest or experience in Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing to further develop advanced skills and understanding of the main requirements, techniques and solutions associated with Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing, including mobile devices and mobile application/middleware development, mobile services and associated protocols as well as research and development issues in the field.
What are career prospects for the course?
Some examples of career opportunities after the successful completion of the course are listed below:
-Mobile Computing Middleware Development
-Mobile Device and Smartphone Application Software Development
-Web and M-commerce User Interface Development
-Network Security Consultancy
-Further Research by PhD
What are the course details?
Due to recent advances in mobile computing and wireless networking, ubiquitous computing is now a highly sought after computing discipline. Ubiquitous computing brings us into an era where one person has many interconnected computers or 'Information Appliances'.
The overall aim of the MSc Programme in Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing is to provide people of graduate status, working or planning to work in a computing environment, with the opportunity to enhance their career prospects or to become ubiquitous and mobile computing professionals by gaining additional knowledge and skills in the areas of ubiquitous (or pervasive) and mobile computing and its applications.
The programme learning outcomes define that at the end of the programme, students should:
-Be aware of current and developing principles and practices of ubiquitous and mobile computing technologies
-Have widened and deepened students' knowledge and skills in the areas of ubiquitous and mobile computing and its applications
-Have been exposed to and applied a range of tools and techniques currently being used in the development of ubiquitous and mobile applications/systems
-Have critically analysed and developed a major piece of work in the area
-Be able to understand current research issues in the relevant aspects of ubiquitous and mobile computing technologies
-Be able to study independently and have developed research methodology skills
The course consists of the following core and option modules:
SEMESTER 1 CORE MODULES
-Research Methods
-Ubiquitous Computing
SEMESTER 1 OPTION MODULES
-Database Design and Technology
-Multimedia Systems Development
-Multimedia Technology
-Computer Security
-Software Agents
-Software Development - Java
-Forensic Computing
SEMESTER 2 CORE MODULES
-Mobile Computing
-Networked Appliances
SEMESTER 2 OPTION MODULES
-Human Computer Interaction
-Knowledge Based Systems
-Virtual Reality
-Computer Systems Technology
-Wireless Networks
-Network Security
-Location Based Services
Project Dissertation
-In Semester 1, full-time students normally study two core modules listed above and two option modules selected. Part-time students normally study one core module in the first year (Ubiquitous Computing) and one option module, and the other core module (Research Methods) and another option module in the second year.
-In Semester 2, full-time students normally study the two core modules listed above and two option modules selected. Part-time students normally study the two core modules in the first year, and two option modules in the second year.
For Project Dissertation, students normally complete their projects by the end of August, after the completion of all the four core and four selected option modules.
Some details of the core modules and the brief summaries of the option modules for the course are given below:
UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING
This module provides an understanding of contemporary research in the
research topics that make up the fields of pervasive/ubiquitous
computing. In this module advances in sensing hardware will be
investigated, that facilitate the concept of "disappearing computer". A
growing range of applications will be explored based on embedded
computer-driven sensors in our work, social and domestic environments.
Topics studied include the fundamentals of Ubiquitous Computing through
the study ofMarkWeiser's work, the role of embedded sensing technology,
augmenting reality and the applications of ubiquitous computing in social,
professional, domestic, health, art and leisure domains.
RESEARCH METHODS
This module provides a grounding in research methods as they apply to
research in computing and information systems. It outlines essential
considerations when conducting experimental research, survey research,
field research, etc., and allows an opportunity to analyse research papers
and develop familiarity with research areas and approaches. It also
provides students with an opportunity to plan and develop an individual
research strategy suitable for a Master's dissertation.
Topics studied include a variety of research methods and processes,
general components of surveys and field studies, issues in problem
analysis, topical research sources, and the requirements of a dissertation.
MOBILE COMPUTING
This module offers an advanced understanding of the theory and practice
of mobile computing and an in-depth study of devices, applications and
middleware services for support of mobile systems design. Current
issues are discussed, including recent developments in industry and
academic research.
Topics studied include mobile telephony, mobile Internet, security issues,
mobile devices, environment awareness, mobile file systems, and mobile
applications.
NETWORKED APPLIANCES
This module offers the opportunity to apply knowledge from a wide range
of computing areas to the building of Networked Appliances systems. It
discuss how wireless networking technologies, HCI principles and
computer security can be adapted and/or applied.
Topics studied include fundamentals of networked appliance, supporting
networking technologies, services and service architecture,
interoperability issues, security, sensors, smart homes, and the
management of networked appliances.
FORENSIC COMPUTING
This module is intended for post-graduate students interested in the field
of forensic computing. The purpose of the module is to provide the
fundamental technical concepts and research issues essential for
computer forensic investigations within the organisation, law
enforcement or national security.
DATABASE DESIGN ANDTECHNOLOGY allows students to gain skills in
the development of database applications and to acquire an
understanding of advanced databases.
COMPUTER SECURITY develops an understanding of security threats
and vulnerabilities, and assesses the applicability of various techniques
for system protection.
MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT offers understanding and
skills in multimedia programming and design, and introduces recent
developments in the subject area.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT-JAVA develops the skills needed for the
design and implementation of object-oriented applications using the Java
programming language.
SOFTWARE AGENTS offers an understanding of the mobile agent
paradigm and investigates the application of mobile agent systems to real
world problems.
MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY offers an understanding and critical
evaluation of the current hardware for sound and video, and relevant
software development tools for supporting the development of general
integrated multimedia applications.
COMPUTER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY examines the techniques and
concepts used in the development of computer based information
systems and e-commerce applications. It examines recent developments
in hardware technology and applies these to information requirements.
KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS provides an understanding of
knowledge-based information systems and the corresponding problem
solving technologies.
VIRTUAL REALITY offers students opportunities to develop skills in
desktop virtual reality worlds construction and applications evaluation.
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION provides students with design
principles of user interfaces and multimedia techniques for building
systems with good interactivity and usability.
NETWORK SECURITY offers an understanding of various securities
vulnerabilities and threats in computer networks and the importance of
network security. It develops the ability to carry out critical assessment
of a variety of security technologies for protection of computer networks.
LOCATION BASED SYSTEMS examines the design and implementation
of a navigation server in location based systems in a mobile computing
environment.
WIRELESS NETWORKS offers an advanced understanding of the theory
and practice of building wireless networks and an in-depth study of the
requirements of wireless communications as well as current research
topics in the fields
