Mobile computing has become commonplace in many commercial and industrial sectors. For example, mining companies, oil and gas pipeline companies, and certain other industries have used GPS-equipped hand-held computers for several years to geographically locate assets and personnel on their sites in remote areas. Newer technologies are now being deployed that enable “position-awareness” for WI-FI networks, making it possible for software applications to deliver information to hand-held computers at a specific locations, where and when it is needed, and to collect data in the same manner. WI-FI positioning will not replace GPS, but will complement it in campus settings, in-building, in factories, etc., where GPS cannot locate the end-user.
However, the real value of mobile computing will evolve from making users smarter and able to react more effectively to the conditions they observe in the field. To accomplish those objectives, companies will need to embed learning components into the flow of data that users access through their mobile computing environment in a manner that enhances the retention of critical information by users.
Optimizing the learning potential for mobile computing is not simply a matter of adding information to the data currently flowing through systems. Instructional materials must be strategically embedded within the data being utilized to perform work. To some extent, the features of computer applications used on hand-held computers and PDAs will need to be expanded to support embedded learning and event or location-based triggers. However, beyond the “bells and whistles” of software products, a fundamental shift in the content and scope of the information exchanged with mobile computing users will be needed to fully capitalize on opportunities to enhance user learning and knowledge retention.