Computers today are more mobile than ever. From small laptops to
Tablet PCs, many computers can go wherever the user wants to go.
Programs that take advantage of the computer's mobility can add
significant value to people's lives. For example, a program that
can find nearby restaurants and provide driving directions would
seem to be a natural fit for a portable computer. But while the
technology to determine the user's current location is common
and affordable, building solutions on this technology can be a
daunting task. To create a location-aware program, you might
need to overcome a variety of issues, including: - Global
positioning system (GPS) devices that use virtual COM ports,
which provide access for only one program at a time. -
Understanding and programming for protocols, such as the
National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) specification, as
well as proprietary vendor extensions. - Being confined to
programming for known, vertical hardware solutions. -
Implementing logic to handle transitions