Trends in Distance Education and Open Learning: Policy ... - ADEA

10. Challenges & ConstraintsCommon technical problemsSupport for multiple OS versions (BlackBerry)An emulator is not always consistent with the actual deviceSmall screen dimensions for displaying contentThis will eventually improve as legacy smart phones shelf life quickly approachesLimited battery, memory, and storage spaceLimited support for Flash playerWindows Mobile 6.5 & Android 2.2 onlyLimited connectivityLimited video supportVarying formats supported; this will also improve in timeNo support for popup windows and framesetsFiles must be optimized for quicker load timesThis is starting to improve with new era of SmartphonesLack of authoring tools to create mobile SCORM content (looking for usecases)SumTotal Toolbook, Lectora Trivantis, Articulate (flash-based)….others?The price for fixed broadband access remains prohibitively high in most developingcountries, effectively limiting access to the Information Society.In a WAP communication restricted memory and bandwidth will limit the downloading ofcourse content in mLearning systems. Other technologies like J2ME allows to apps. to runoffline.Cost and the practical limitations of current infrastructures have prevented DSL and cabletechnologies from reaching many potential broadband users. Generally, DSL only extendsabout five kilometers from the central office switch and many existing cable networks donot provide a return channel. Converting these networks to support high-speed broadbandor deploying wired infrastructure to new areas with low subscriber density is generallycommercially unfeasible and requires years of disruptive installation. All of these factorsmore acutely affect developing countries where infrastructures aren’t as advanced or don’texist.51