SYLLABUS

CSci399/501 Handheld Computing
Department of Computer Science
University of North Dakota, Fall 2005


Class Time: 03:00pm – 03:50pm, MWF
Classroom: 106 Streibel Hall
Prerequisites: CSci351 Introduction to File Processing (strictly enforced)
Class Pages†: http://people.cs.und.edu/~wenchen/course/handheld/
 
Instructor: Wen-Chen Hu
Email: wenchen@cs.und.edu
Office: 212 Streibel Hall
Office Hours: 04:00pm – 05:00pm, MWF, or simply dropping by


DESCRIPTIONS: This course gives a study of handheld computing which is the programming for handheld devices such as smart cellular phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). It consists of two kinds of programming:
  • client-side handheld programming such as address-book development for handheld devices, and
  • server-side handheld programming such as mobile Web contents development.
It is a programming-intensive course and each student is required to design and implement several handheld programming exercises on her/his own. The following topics are covered: handheld computing basics, mobile handheld devices, client-side handheld computing: J2ME and Palm OS, mobile commerce, server-side handheld computing: database-driven mobile Web content design and implementation, and some other special topics.

Client-side handheld computing —


An example of server-side handheld computing: mobile commerce programming —



TEXTBOOK: On-line documents and slides

EVALUATION (Attendance is absolutely required.): 
    Programming exercises & quizzes‡  ——  30% (Exercise weights are the same.)
    Two exams                         ——  20% each
    Final exam                        ——  30%
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: 
    Week        1  ——  Introduction
    Week        2  ——  Client-side handheld computing
    Weeks  3 -  5  ——  J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition)
    Weeks  6 -  8  ——  Palm OS programming
    Week        9  ——  WML (Wireless Markup Language) and WMLScript
    Week       10  ——  SQL (Structured Query Language)
    Week       11  ——  A host language with embedded SQL
    Week       12  ——  Database-driven mobile Web sites
    Weeks 13 - 14  ——  Mobile commerce systems
    Weeks 15 - 16  ——  Mobile handheld devices

DISHONESTY: Under no circumstances will acts of academic dishonesty be tolerated. Any suspected incidents of dishonesty will be promptly referred to the Assistant Dean of Students. Refer to the Code of Student Life, Chapter 3-3 Scholastic Dishonesty.

DISABILITY: Students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

†The on-line class materials provide the most complete and up-to-date information about this course. However, many key points in the slides will be omitted, but will be given in classes. They will be asked or used in the exams, quizzes, or exercises. This is to encourage students to attend classes.

‡The quizzes are simple and straightforward and will not be announced in advance.