Application Design for Wireless Computing

As mobile computing becomes more prevulent, systems ond applications must deal with a growing disparity in resources types and availability at the user interface device. Network characteristics, display size, method of input, local storage and computing, are sorne of the rnore obuiously affected contponents. AIthough the chullenges of effectiuelg managing these resoarces are partially addressed bg etisting systems, their solutions are hindered by the system's lack of knowledge obout application behauior. This, combined with the nar'rower domain of applications comrnonly used during mobile computing, suggests addressing these concerns from the application leael. This paper presents strategies for designing applications f-or a wirCless enaironment, by reducing the demands placed on the wireless network. A World Wide Web client browser is used to illastrate this design.