Course detail

Application Development for Mobile Devices (in English)

FIT-TAMaAcad. year: 2025/2026

Specifics of mobile devices: hardware, software limitations, specifics of user interfaces. Overview and characteristics of existing mobile platforms. Development for Android: overview of the platform, history, versions, basic principles of development, modern approaches. Design of user interfaces for mobile devices: specifics, steps of the design, design languages, acquiring information from users and testers. Architectures of mobile apps: communication in network, client-server, synchronization of information, distribution of compuatationa load.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Adam Herout, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Computer Graphics and Multimedia (UPGM)

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Entry knowledge

  • Basic knowledge of creation of user interfaces (ITU course).
  • Knowledge of basics of computer graphics and 3D rendering with hardware acceleration (PGR course).
  • Knowledge of object oriented application design (+ one of the following languages: C++, C#, Java).
  • Knowledge of basics of operating systems (in the extent given by the Bc. level tought at FIT).

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

  • Project with a defense - 70 points
  • Mid-term test / Essay - 30 points

Aims

Get acquainted with existing mobile platforms and with the principles of creation of user interfaces, to get overview of the hardware platforms and operating system, their mutual comparison. Learn about the process of creation of mobile app from conceptual design, through graphics design, testing UX elements, implementation, testing, publishing and further maintenance and development. The student focuses on one selected platform and within a team creates an application functional on a selected mobile device; students practice project documentation and project defense.
  • The student will get acquainted with existing mobile platforms and with the principles of creation of user interfaces
  • Students get an overview of the hardware platforms and operating system, their mutual comparison.
  • Students learn basics of application creation on systems Android / iOS.
  • Students learn specifics of designing mobile applications - what forms a successful and useful mobile app, how are mobile apps specific, what factors are non/intuitive during desing.
  • The student focuses on one selected platform and within a team creates an application functional on a selected mobile device; students practice project documentation and project defense.

  • The student learns to search for information in English regarding very timely technologies.
  • Student learns to create projects in a small team.
  • Student learns presentation and defense of results in a small project.
  • Student will be led towards creative and innovative project design.
  • Student will be led towards critical analysis and commenting of existing solutions.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Bill Phillips, Chris Stewart, Kristin Marsicano: Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide (3rd Edition) (Big Nerd Ranch Guides), Big Nerd Ranch Guides; 3 edition (February 9, 2017), ISBN: 978-0134706054 (EN)
Don Norman: The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition, Basic Books; Revised, Expanded edition (November 5, 2013), ISBN: 978-0465050659 (EN)
Christian Keur, Aaron Hillegass: iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide (6th Edition) (Big Nerd Ranch Guides), Big Nerd Ranch Guides; 6 edition (January 6, 2017), ISBN: 978-0134682334 (EN)
Jeffrey Rubin, Dana Chisnell: Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests, 2nd Edition, Wiley; 2 edition (May 12, 2008), ISBN: 978-0470185483 (EN)
Steve Krug: Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (3rd Edition), New Riders; 3 edition (January 3, 2014), ISBN: 978-0321965516 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme IT-MGR-1H Master's

    specialization MGH , 0 year of study, winter semester, recommended course

  • Programme MIT-EN Master's 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MITAI Master's

    specialization NSEC , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NISY up to 2020/21 , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NNET , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NMAL , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NCPS , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NHPC , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NVER , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NIDE , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NISY , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NSPE , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NBIO , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NSEN , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NVIZ , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NGRI , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NADE , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization NISD , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NMAT , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Adam Herout, Ph.D.

Syllabus

This list might not be up to date. Fresh information is always at the private course pages.
  1. Introduction to the course, Introduction to the problematic of mobile development.
  2. Project workshop.
  3. Development for Android I.
  4. Development for Android II.
  5. Project workshop
  6. Design of Mobile Apps
  7. Mobile Design Languages: Material Design and others
  8. Pervasive Computing: Designing Services for the Future
  9. Project workshop
  10. Unix on smartphones - Nokia, BlackBerry (QNX), Tizen, ...
  11. Experience from practical projects.
  12. Experience from practical projects.
  13. Concluding information, preparation for the final exam.

Project

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Adam Herout, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Team projects (4 students per project) with written documentation and defense. The projects will be applications functional on mobile devices of a selected mobile platform.