The Cloud-Mobile Convergence Paradigm for Augmented Reality

Abstract

Mobile computing for massive users has gained enormous progresses in the last few years. Among the main propelling forces for this momentum are the performance improvements of mobile application processors, increasing of storage and sensing capabilities, as well as breakthroughs in manufacturing technologies for high-quality mobile displays. Along with such progresses, the way people perceive mobile devices evolved over time as well, maybe best reflected by the changing names. During the 1990s, the mobile devices were called cellular phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants), to differentiate between the then-major functionalities of voice communication and handheld computing. Later the word "smart phone" was more popularly used, attesting the convergence between communication and computing elements. Nowadays, new technical jargons such as tablets, pads, and smart books are often used to refer to mobile devices. Behind the hype of this name changing game is the simple fact that personal computing is rapidly shifting towards being mobile.