The document discusses smart platforms and provides advice for developing applications for them. It begins by debunking the myth that devices themselves are smart, noting that it is people who are smart. It then covers the history and evolution of smart platforms from early feature phones to today's smartphones and tablets. Market analysis shows smartphones now comprise over 60% of the market. Examples are given of education, health, and AR applications. General design advice includes keeping things simple, clear, and concise. Specific Android development tips include treating each screen as an activity and supporting different resolutions and orientations. In conclusion, smart platforms are powerful if used well but have limitations around resources, adoption, fragmentation, and monetization.

1. I-Hen Tsai
Software Engineer
Delta Electronics Tainan Joint Labs
WHAT TO MAKE OF TODAY’S
“SMART” PLATFORMS

2. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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3. Definition of “smart” device
 1997 Ericsson, first mention
1. Wide range of form factors
2. Support ubiquitous computing properties
3. Impersonal physical world interaction
4. Multi-tasking capabilities
 Sounds like every laptop doesn’t it?
 We don’t call our laptop a “smart” something
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4. The “smart” myth
 A smart device is only as smart as its user
 If it is working as intended
 And if designed and built as intended
 Machines (devices) are NOT smart!!
 People ARE!!
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5. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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6. Evolution
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7. Smartphones & such platforms
 Feature phones
 Smart phones
 Tablets
 Phablets
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8. Similar stuff that flopped
 PDA (Palm)
 Netbooks
 Chromebooks
 Tablet PC
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9. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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10. Key players
 Systems  Hardware
 Apple  Apple
 Google  Samsung
 RIM  Sony
 Microsoft  HTC
 Sharp
 LG
 Asus
 Motorola
 Nokia
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11. Market distribution
2012 Unit 2012 Market 2011 Unit 2011 Market Year-over-year
Vendor Shipments Share Shipments Share Change
1. Samsung 250.0 20.8% 114.0 12.3% 119.3%
2. Apple 218.7 18.2% 151.5 16.3% 44.3%
3. Lenovo 78.3 6.5% 48.5 5.2% 61.4%
4. HP 58.2 4.8% 63.6 6.8% -8.5%
5. Dell 38.8 3.2% 44.6 4.8% -12.9%
Others 557.1 46.4% 508.1 54.6% 9.6%
Total 1201.1 100.0% 930.4 100.0% 29.1%
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.
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12. Arguments: Why did they
succeed?
 Affordable
 Better computing power than before
 Applications, looooooots of applications
 Accessible to developers
 Satisfying customers
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13. Comparisons:
Between computing hardware
Platform
Attribute
Smartphone Tablet Desktop Laptop
Pricing (NTD) 5~30K 2~30K 15~100K 15~100K
Screen Size 2.7~6.3” 7~10.1” 14~6X” 10~18.4”
Mice, Mice,
Controls Fingers, voice Fingers, voice
keyboard, etc. keyboard, etc.
Workspace Very small Moderate Big Moderate
Memory Small Small Big Big
Storage Small Small Huge Moderate
Upgrades Storage No/Storage Everything Limited
Computing
Low Low High Moderate
Power
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14. A developing weird scenario…
 Your phones now has the following abilities:
 Phone (duh…)
 SMS (uh..duh…)
 Got games!! (play snake anyone?)
 Plays music (good!)
 Plays videos (good!)
 Stillpic camera (great!)
 Shoots videos (woohoo~)
 Data connectivity (good!)
 Surfs web (nice!)
 Does email (nice!)
 GPS navigator (good to have…)
 A torch (well…)
 Doubles as a remote (huh?)
 High def audio playback(what?)
 Can be a projector (wait…)
 …
 Is a Star Trek tricorder (no way!!...OK, maybe in 30 years…?)
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15. Current distribution
Product 2012 Unit 2012 Market 2011 Unit 2011 Market Year-over-
Category Shipments Share Shipments Share year Change
Smartphone 722.4 60.1% 494.5 53.1% 46.1%
Tablet 128.3 10.7% 72.0 7.7% 78.4%
Portable PC 202.0 16.8% 209.1 22.5% -3.4%
Desktop PC 148.4 12.4% 154.8 16.6% -4.1%
Total 1201.1 100.0% 930.4 100.0% 29.1%
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.
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16. Current distribution
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.
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17. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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18. Applications
 Health diagnostics
 Music composition
 Digital education medium
 Fitness monitoring
 Mobile workplace
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19. Examples in education
 Electronic textbooks
 Edutaiment
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20. Examples in health industry
 Device integration
 Communications
 Management
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21. Examples in AR
 Museums
 Exhibits
 Games
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22. The Real Value?
 Portability
 Versatility
 Connectivity
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23. Drawbacks
 Same problems with laptops
 Limited power
 Expensive
 Crashes/hangs
 Small working space
 Cannot upgrade
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24. Things to keep in mind (I)
 Aim of your application
 Screen real estate
 Flow of control
 Hardware requirements to run your
application
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25. Things to keep in mind (II)
 Target audience
 Streamlining
 Provide alternatives
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26. DESIGNING FOR TODAY’S
“SMART” PLATFORMS
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27. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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28. General advice
KISS – “Keep it simple, stupid”
Kelly Johnson, Lockheed Skunk Works
(SR-71 Blackbird and other US secret
planes)
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29. Advice in designing UI
 Be clear
 Be concise
 Be obvious
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30. Examples (I)
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31. Examples (II)
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32. Examples (III)
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33. Examples (IV)
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34. Examples (V)
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35. Advice in coding
 Make sure your application is responsive
 Don’t crash
 Debug, test, debug and test some more
 Try not to run in the background
 Don’t overdo the popup messages
 Reuse your code
 Markup with comments
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36. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
36

37. Advice for Android (I)
 Each screen is an “activity”
 Last in, first out
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38. Advice for Android (II)
 Screen size compatibility
 Multiple layouts
 Different resolution media
Supporting different layout orientations
Supporting different screen size layouts Supporting different resolution media
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39. Advice for Android (III)
 Show progress
 Some actions need
processing time
 Let users know their
phone is still alive
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40. Outline
 Defining and debunking the “smart” myth
 History & evolution
 Market analysis
 Applications & examples
 Designing for today’s smart devices
 General advice & examples
 Advice for Android development
 Conclusions
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41. Conclusions
 Powerful platform if utilized well
 Finite resources
 Adoption is slow
 Fragmentation
 Where is the money?
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42. Thank You for Your Attention!!
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