Mobile Computing in Agriculture The production of mobility

The Development of Mobile Computing

History of Mobile Computing

The Origin of Mobile Computing

The origin of mobile computing is an interesting topic that many should be willing to learn about. Introduced in 1943, the first electric programmable computer was developed y Tommy, Flowers, named The Colossus. Through the years of building the small increments for the perfect computer, the first laptop or portable computer was developed in 1975, it was called the IBM 5100. After the introduction of the first laptop, many big computer companies as we know today begin the revolution of media, such as Dell, Hewlett Packard, including Toshiba.

The History of Mobile Computing

From the origin of the first computer, history has been and is currently being made with the advancement of technology in the world. To define the term of Mobile Computing, it is the umbrella terms that enable people to access network services anyplace, anytime, and anywhere (Livingston, 2013). From the desktop computer, there was the development of the laptop, one invention that begun the term of ‘mobile computing’. Soon after the laptop began, the cellular phones begin to arise. In April of 1973, the first mobile phone handset made a call from a portable phone (Livingston, 2013). After the introduction of a cellular phone, smartphones made its way for those in the businesses, containing apps that helped those in the technology or business industry have more to develop and plan at their hands. The invention of iPhone started in the year of 2007 by Steve Jobs. The iPhone industry is steadily growing and earning more customers with the advancement of their technological phones. Once the world got equipped to their cell phones, the tablet was born.

The tablet is a mixture of a phone and a laptop, enabling people to have access to their phone data while on the go, including their laptop data. Sometime carrying a laptop can be a hassle which is why the tablet seems more comforting for people to use. This is the main invention that many farmers in agriculture are using. Tablets and smartphones are usually easy to use, with the access of Wi-Fi. Having the connection allows farmers to use and track their farms on the go, or just simply being at the ranch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Computing

There are advantages and disadvantages with the use of mobile computing, whether it be using a tablet or just your smartphone while on the go. Four current advantages of mobile computing, posted on WordPress in 2012, are:

1) Increase in Productivity – In agriculture, the use of mobile computing will increase their productivity while on the farm, which reduces time and cost. Rather than having to always be on the go to find out what is wrong and how to fix something on their farm, the farmers can simply use their tablet or smartphone to find the best options to fix what is wrong or find the answers on fixing something on the farm.

2) Entertainment – If there is ever a slow day in the industry of agriculture, farmers can use their smartphone/tablet to find entertainment to kill time until business starts. This is as simply as downloading a game or even just looking up ways to make their farm a better place.

3) Portability – Listed as one of the main advantages, being able to move around in certain places whenever you need to is the best benefit of having a smartphone/tablet in agriculture. This advantage can allow farmers to track pests and water their farm.

4) Cloud Computing – Without being so literal, cloud computing is the service of being able to save documents and other stuff on the smartphone/tablet. Farmers that use the smartphone/tablet for business inquires would love the idea of cloud computing so that they can keep track of what they buy and spend on the farm.

The disadvantages are:

5) Quality of Connection – There are times when there is not enough connection close by. Having this disadvantage can make the productivity a little slower.

6) Security Concerns – When saving data in the cloud storage, there are hackers that can get in to your source and steal everything that has been saved.

7) Power Consumption – Not all the smartphone/tablet has the best battery storage so there may be a time when the device may shut off while in the middle of tracking software at the farm.

Benefits of Mobile Computing in Agriculture

According to USA Today, more U.S farmers and ranchers are using smartphones or other mobile computing devices to increase efficiency and generate higher profits (Davidson, 2014). Increasing efficiency on their farms give farmers a bit of leeway to have time to do things they would like to finish before the end of the day. Higher profits can be generated with he faster productivity in their farm. With mobile computing, farmers can improve their agricultural productivity (Admin, 2011). This includes access to basic financial services, new agricultural techniques, helping secure better prices for crop and a better return on investments. The increase in productivity leads to an increase in income and with this, farmers are able to invest in better supplies for their farms such as better seeds, fertilizers and other chemicals.

Mobile Computing in Agriculture Device From Trimble

The Use of Mobile Computing in Agirculture

From an article in USA Today, 94% of farmers now own a smartphone or a mobile phone. This high percentage shows the increase of mobile computing in the field of agriculture. It has grown so rapidly. The use of mobile computing started in the industries of oil/gas, health, and engineering. Farmers have now realized the specialization that mobile computing can have on their life and the productivity of their farms. The use of mobile computing can be very simple. It may have been said before, but mobile computing in agriculture refers to farmers using their tablets/smartphones to check commodity prices, monitor the activity of water equipment, or just identifying weeds or pests on their farm (Davidson, 2014).

To be able to track these specific things on their farms, farmers must be able to download the apps that’s included to track them. With over one million apps that are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, the Agriculture apps can be broken down to show you why and what’s the use of them. There are five different categories displayed (Cook, 2012):

1) Farm Management/Data Collection Apps: This app is very useful for farm planning. This is a nice way to start a farm and have information given to you so that it is easier to do while on the move This app keeps track of data relating to management decisions, inputs. Soil tests, stocking rates and many more things to keep track of the farm.

2) Calculator Apps: As simple as it is, the calculator apps allow farmers to look up how much a certain item they may need costs. This is easier for the farmer too, while also looking up how much a farmer will need to spray to diminish a weed that has been grown on their farm.

3) Information/Resource Apps: When trying to find weeds and pests in your farm, a farmer will need to know exactly what they are and how they look. Once they have been found, they will need to find a way to get rid of them. Using this source in the apps will allow farmers to look up relevant information regarding those certain things so they can be solved as soon as possible without harm being done to their farm.

4) News Apps: These apps can deliver information specifically about your industry as soon as possible. The information is given to you at the hearts of your hands.

5) Weather Apps: The weather apps specifically give farmer the insight of the weather for the day and what they can look forward to so that they can protect their crops from the natural disaster damages.

Societal Benefits

The societal benefit of mobile computing is the faster communication. This faster communication is beneficial to the society because as farmers, the production of their industry is giving back to those people in world faster. There is more than 7 billion people in the world and not just one farmer has the ability to provide for all so every farmer in the industry has the task of increasing productivity and efficiency to help cater to the world. With the fast-moving industry and technology, mobile computing is making life a lot easier for farmers and people. There may be small interruptions with the mobile computers but farmers will be able to make it better as time go on.

Conclusions

Mobile Computing in Agriculture is the best idea that has made farming more easier to do. With the information gained on this particular topic, it is shown that with the increase of technology in the world, the harder things that were identified in the earlier life has become an easier task to do. This benefit may allow farmers to have more time with family, rather than spending countless hours on the farm. Want to enjoy life, but create a farm also? Get involved in mobile computing and get your industry started!

References

A. (2011, December 15). Mobile phones and farmers – what are the benefits? | From Poverty to Power. Retrieved from https://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/mobile-phones-and-farmers-what-are-the-benefits/

Cook, P. (2012, March 28). Grains Research and Development. Retrieved from https://grdc.com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2012/03/Emerging-technologies-in-agriculture-Smartphones-tablets-apps-and-social-media

Davidson, D. (2014, February 21). Farmers Growing Comfortable with Mobile Computing - COMMANDmobile. Retrieved from http://commandmobile.com/farmers-growing-comfortable-mobile-computing/

Gold, M. (2012, April 27). When Was The First Computer Invented? Retrieved from http://overtheair.org/blog/2012/04/when-was-the-first-computer-invented/

Livingston, D., J. (2013, December 04). Introduction & history of mobile computing. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/davidjlivi/introduction-history-of-mobile-computing

W. (2012, October 14). Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Computing. Retrieved from https://mobilecomputingproject.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-mobile-computing/

Made with Adobe Slate

Make your words and images move.

Get Slate

Report Abuse

If you feel that this video content violates the Adobe Terms of Use, you may report this content by filling out this quick form.

To report a Copyright Violation, please follow Section 17 in the Terms of Use.