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RFID, Business Intelligence (BI), Mobile Computing, and the Cloud
traffic information is also being provided by other smartphone users. For example, when a
user of the Google Maps for mobile application chooses to enable the My Location option,
which shows the user’s location on the map, it sends anonymous bits of data back to
Google describing how fast the user is moving. By combining the data of thousands of
phones moving around a city at any given time, Google can provide an accurate picture of
live traffic conditions. This traffic data is then provided to mobile users in the Google
Maps traffic layers.

ANOTHER LOOK

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Corporate and Military Apps
Companies are now using mobile applications (apps) in unique ways, and many
companies are creating their own internal app stores. For example, the pharmaceutical
company, Pfizer, has an app that helps employees who are traveling find and contact
other Pfizer employees who are also traveling. Aflac, an insurance company, has an app
that allows claims adjusters to see data and coordinate insurance claims on a mobile
device without having to go to a computer and log onto the main enterprise system. For
disaster recovery, Deloitte Consulting created an app called Bamboo, which can push
emergency information out to employees’ smartphones in the event of an emergency.
Deloitte is implementing the app internally, and in the future, the firm plans to offer it to
its customers.
The military is also a major potential user of specialized mobile devices and apps.
Harris, an electronics and communications company is working on an app for tablet
computers, such as Apple’s iPad, to control the remote camera on an Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV). While there are durability issues with using a commercial tablet in harsh
environments, it could make economic sense to use a $400 tablet in a rugged case
instead of a $10,000 wireless receiver. If a tablet breaks, it is much cheaper to replace.
In addition, because these devices are familiar to many young soldiers from their
personal experience, training costs are reduced.
In April 2011, Textron announced that the U.S. Army was beginning tests of
SoldierEyes, a smartphone-based battle analysis and tracking system the company has
been developing. According to Textron, this application would allow every soldier to act as
a sensor. Using this application, soldiers could collect and report real-time mission critical
data, incorporating photos and video, which can be linked to the geographic location of the
soldier. With SoldierEyes, this information can be communicated (via the SoldierEyes
Application Cloud) to existing command, control, communications, intelligence, and
surveillance systems using 3G/4G cellular and Wi-Fi networks. For remote areas where
these networks are not available, Textron has developed a secure mobile battlefield
cellular network called FASTCOM, which can use manned and unmanned aircraft,
aerostats (tethered blimps), or ground vehicles to provide cellular coverage.
Question:
1. Choose an industry in which you might eventually like to work. Think of three
types of mobile apps that could be used to help you work more efficiently in
that industry. Use the Internet to find out if those apps have been developed
by any company. Present your findings in a one-page report to your
instructor.

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