Manhattan Field Research - Mobile Devices	Home

Mobile Device Development Platforms

Since January 2008, Computer Education Techniques, Inc. has been conducting field research and usability reviews of mobile devices in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York between West End Avenue and Central Park West from 61st to 116th Street.

The initial observation focused on product functionality and purchase intent, outside the Apple Store, one block north of Lincoln Center, and the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Broadway and 82nd Street: Apple iPhone and iPad, Google Android smartphones and tablets computing devices, Microsoft phone and tablet - Surface with Windows 10 to 11 operating system devices, Barnes and Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle, and the transitioning away from RIM: Research in Motion Blackberry and webOS mobile computing devices.

Informal questioning was performed in close proximity to brick and mortar retail storefronts on the Upper West Side of Manhattan: AT & T, Best Buy, PC Richard and Son, US Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile marketing of smartphones and tablet computing devices.

In 2010, the field research was extended to college campus bookstores. Observation and user preference questions also have been performed at bus stop seating areas, during subway commutation, and bicycle riding in Riverside Park. Additional targeted questioning was done in hallways and elevators. The immense growth of smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices create a range of new usability challenges. Differences in screen size, processing, power consumption, wireless performance, gesture and new user interfaces such as advanced haptics create a competitive need to leverage the latest in UI design and best practices to deliver data efficiently over the Internet and as cloud-based services. A primary objective is to develop a knowledge base which results in a purposeful use of open source software and trial versions of commercial software. The trend continues to be an increased use of hybrid environments - OSS with commercial software. CETi downloads and prototypes the software infrastructure and codes programs which are demonstrated through its own and technology partner websites. Examples and sample programs in the public domain are tested, benchmarked, and extended. Reference cards and documentation is developed for use in CETi courseware.

This information is used to update courseware for teaching and instructor guides.

It also is reviewed in relation to the leading subscription magazines and the commercial software company and open source software purveyor websites.

Information on emerging trends in mobile device component software is available at:

This content and subject matter is being incorporated into CETi industry standard and tailored mobile device curriculum and training programs: database design - microservices, user experience, and programming languages.