Grant: Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges Grants

Information Technology is entering a period of transformative change that rivals and is expected to eclipse previous waves of change in IT. The rapid growth of Mobile Computing has been unlocked by exciting new devices from smartphones to tablets, and by new generations of wireless networks. In 2010, there were 270 million smartphones shipped globally, a 55% increase from 2009 (Cisco, 2010). The industry recently reached a tipping point, where smartphone and tablet shipments exceeded desktop and laptop shipments combined (Pettey, 2011). This growth is primarily due to the explosion of mobile apps that are driving this increase in network traffic. ""Since the launch of Apple's iPhone in 2007, smartphones have transformed the way consumers connect with businesses and each other. From downloading videos to buying coffee, checking bank balances to updating Facebook, consumers now rely on their phones for an astonishing range of activities-and their enthusiasm for those devices is only going to intensify in the next two years, particularly as apps become more creative and convenient"" (Bothun, 2011). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now shifting their focus to leverage the consumer's mobile presence (Pettey, 2011). Establishing a strong mobile brand allows businesses to improve their productivity, competitiveness, market share, and profitability(Bothun, 2011). The School of Applied Computing at Sheridan is proposing an NSERC IRCC Chair in Mobile Computing, consistent with our existing strategic direction. The Chairholder's proposed program of research will focus on two primary areas: context-aware mobile computing, and cloud integrated mobile computing. These areas have been selected due to their ability to directly improve the competitive position of SMEs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario. The program of research will enable applied research in collaboration with industry partners, focusing on the challenges and opportunities involved in delivering innovative mobile computing solutions for SMEs. The Chairholder's program of research will promote commercialization, technology