Department of Computer Sciences
University of Texas at Austin

CS 329E - Elements of Mobile Computing (Spring 2013)
Section: 53390, MWF 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, GDC 1.304

Instructor: Dr. Shyamal Mitra
E-mail: mitra@cs.utexas.edu
Office Hours: MWF 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Location: GDC 6.816

Teaching Assistant: Tong Zhao
E-mail: tong.zhao@utexas.edu
Office Hours: MW 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, T 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM, F 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: GDC 1.304 or GDC 1.302

Required Text: Android for Programmers: An App-Driven Approach by Deitel, Deitel, Deitel, and Morgano
Publisher: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0-13-212136-1.

Additional Text: Android Wireless Application Development by Darcey and Conder.
Publisher: Addison Wesley. ISBN: 978-0-321-81383-1.

Scope of the Course

This is an upper division course in the Elements of Computing series for non-CS majors. It is assumed that you have taken CS 303E and CS 313E or their equivalent. This course is an introduction to mobile computing on the Android operating system. The objective of this course is to develop an app for the Android market place.

The course is hands-on lab based course. There are no quizzes or exams. There will be several tutorial assignments that have to be completed and turned in. The course will culminate in a final project. The topics that will be discussed in class will include - Android Development Environment and Tools, Android Application Basics, Android User Interface, Android Application Design, Publishing and Distributing Android Applications. You are not required to have an Android device. You can develop your app on an Android emulator. However, the department will make available some Android dev phones for checkout during lab hours. Phones must be returned to the instructor by the end of the day.

The first two weeks will be spent on reviewing Java and XML. Then we will follow Deitel's book fairly closely. We will work through each app as presented in the book and then implement enhancements to the apps. We will not have lectures. You will be given the material to be read before class. The class time will be a venue for discussion or lab work. We will also continue our class discussion on Piazza.

Assignments

The assignments will be the enhancements to the tutorial examples as presented in the book. A significant portion of your grade will come from your completed assignments. We will be adhering to deadlines strictly. You will be given only one extension to an assignment during the semester. All assignments must be submitted using the web based turnin program. Grades for completed assignments will be posted on Blackboard. You will have one week from the day an assignment grade is released to dispute it. After which we will not entertain any grade disputes.

Project

Students are expected to work in pairs for the project. You will be submitting a proposal for an app right after spring break. You will design and implement the app in April. The last week of class will be set aside for presentation of your projects.

Grades

Your performance in this class will be evaluated using your scores for class participation and attendance, assignments, and final project.

If you have more than 6 absences during the semester you will forfeit all the points alloted to class participation, i.e. 10% of your final grade.

Academic Misconduct Policy

While you are free to discuss the course material with your classmates and are encouraged to exchange ideas on Piazza collaboration on assignments is not permitted.

Helping a friend understand the intent of an assignment specification is permitted. Students who work together too closely (e.g. design their solution together) should be aware that this is a form of cheating called COLLUSION and is subject to academic penalties. Penalties for academic misconduct include a failing grade in this course.

The homework, programs, and exams must be the work of students turning them in. University policy (see Dean of Students' policies on academic integrity) will be followed strictly.

Acts that exceed the bounds defined by the approved collaboration practices will be considered cheating. Such acts include:

We urge everyone in the class to take appropriate measures for protecting one's work. You should protect your files, homework solution sheets, etc. as deemed reasonable. Please note that we will be running a sophisticated program on all your turned in homework assignments to detect similarities. Do resist any urge for copying solutions from each other. If you are using publicly available snippets of code, do document it.

Your Responsibilities in This Class

University Time Table

General Policies

If you are absent from class or examination for the observance of a religious holy day you may turn in your assignment or take the examination on an alternate date provided you have given me written notice fourteen days prior to the class absence. For religious holy days that fall within the first two weeks of class notice must be given on the first class day.

Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office (471-6259 or 471-4641 TTY).