Physics of Smart Devices (NEW)

Smart technologies are changing our life and our societies on many levels and continue to give rise to new developments, and new smart and smarter devices. To shape the future, we need creative and interdisciplinary minds with knowledge of science and technology to develop, implement smart technological solutions in our modern society. The most ubiquitous smart device arguably is the smartphone. Physics is the foundation on which those emerging technologies came to exist and have brought about a revolution in the way we communicate and find our way around. The rise of smart appliances and devices for domestic use has changed the way we interact in our daily activities. Understanding how these technologies work, especially with the laws of physics at play, students may develop a profound understanding of these everyday devices and may even appreciate the way they function and perform which alter life for the better. In particular, the smartphone is becoming more sophisticated, versatile, and packed with many advanced technologies on a smaller and smaller scale. In this course we examine how the smartphone glorifies many scientific and technological advancements. These technologies including semiconductor nanotechnology, sensors, fiber optics, satellites, and even atomic clocks form the main subjects to be explored in this course.