4G TechnologyAnd Its Implications for Ubiquitous Learning

by Tiffani Pittman

You’ve Seen These Ads for the New 4G Technology:

But Do You Really KnowWhat 4G is All About?

What is 4G?4G is the Fourth Generation of Mobile

Technology

4G is still in the development stages

The “New 4G Phones” are actually using what should be termed 3.5G or 3.75G

What do we have now?Advertisers promoting 4G services currently

employ the following technologies:

HSPA+ (T-Mobile)WiMAX (Sprint)LTE (Verizon)

“True 4G” Technologies include LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution Advanced) and WiMAX Release 2, neither of which are available today

4G Standards?The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

set the following requirements (among others) for the technology to be considered True 4G:

All-IP packet switched networkData rates up to 100 Mbps for high mobility

and up to 1 Gbps for low mobilitySeamless connectivity and

global roaming Interoperability with existing

wireless standardsSmooth handoversHigh QoS (Quality of Service)

What will 4G do?4G will be extremely fast. Download

speeds of 100 Mbps when you’re moving and 1 Gbps when you’re stationary far surpass today’s maximum speeds (which are 10 to 20 Mbps for the new “4G” phones).

4G operates on a greater number of frequency bands at lower signals, which will provide broader coverage at a lower cost than traditional services.

4G will provide seamless global connectivity, while the multiple standards used for 3G technologies make it difficult to interoperate across networks.

4G will provide higher levels of security and standards.

Implications for u-LearningSmart phones and devices are affordable and widely

used, providing 24/7 connectivity to a large portion of the population, spreading the opportunities for u-learning.

4G technologies will allow seamless transitions between devices including our mobile device, laptop, e-reader and TV, so that u-learning can be delivered and continued whenever and wherever we are.

Mobile device upgrades, including larger screens, improved camera technologies and longer battery lives, will enhance u-learning experiences.

4G will help bring broadband access to rural and developing areas where landlines are not available, bringing educational opportunities to those areas.

Mobile technology improvements have spurred an increase in flexible and functional authoring systems, allowing for easier cross-platform content development.

With increased download speeds, richer interactive experiences will be available for mobile devices, particularly streaming audio and video for web conferencing and new forms of proximity computing.

Implications for u-Learning

Implications for u-LearningEducators must keep pace with the continued

advances in wireless technology and the growing popularity of mobile devices.

Get started today with tools like the following:

u-Learning ToolsQR Code Generators

Quick-Response Codes can be read by mobile devices and provide instant links to text, websites, or other resources. http://www.qrstuff.com/http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/

Try this one!

u-Learning ToolsMobl21 - A Mobile Learning Application

Mobl21 helps educators easily create learning material, publish to multiple users or groups, and track and monitor content access and performances. http://www.mobl21.com/workflow/

Get Mobile and RideThe Wireless Wave of the Future

ResourcesWarren, Christina. What is 4G? An FAQ on Next Generation Wireless. Mashable

Tech. 11 February 2011 Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://mashable.com/2011/02/11/4g-faq/

Dilger, Daniel E. NPD ranks iPhone 4S as America's most popular 4G phone due to HSPA+. Apple Insider . 13 March 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/03/13/npd_ranks_iphone_4s_as_americas_most_popular_4g_phone_due_to_hspa.html

4G Technology. Engineers’ Garage. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/4G-technology

Enterprise mlearning Predictions for 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://mlearningtrends.blogspot.com/

Broader 4G Wireless Access Will Accelerate Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Developing Regions of the World, Say IEEE Wireless Experts . 16 May 2011. IEEE: Advancing Technology for Humanity. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://www.ieee.org/about/news/2011/16may_2_2011.html

ResourcesSchone, B.J. 20 mLearning Tools in 60 Minutes. 15 June 2010. Retrieved March 15,

2012 from http://www.slideshare.net/bjschone/20-mlearning-tools-in-60-minutes-mlearncon-2010

3G vs. 4G Network Technology: The Difference Between. VS Pages. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://vspages.com/3g-vs-4g-network-technology-the-difference-between-1094/

Corbeil, J. R. and Corbeil, M. E. (2011). Are we ready for mobile learning now? 2007 Mobile Learning Predictions Revisited. Issues in Information Systems, 12(2), pp. 142-152.