Ubiquitous Ubiquitous ComputingComputing

Software Systems Software Systems

Why Ubiquitous Why Ubiquitous Computing?Computing?

The most profound The most profound technologies are those that technologies are those that disappear. disappear.

-Mark Weiser (1952-1999)-Mark Weiser (1952-1999)Chief Technologist at the Xerox Chief Technologist at the Xerox

Palo Alto Research CenterPalo Alto Research Center

Why Ubiquitous Why Ubiquitous Computing?Computing? The personal computer is still too The personal computer is still too

hard to usehard to use Think about watching a movie by Think about watching a movie by

PCPC– Download file, network access, Download file, network access,

media player, codecs, supporting media player, codecs, supporting software…software…

The Goal of UbiCompThe Goal of UbiComp

Age of Age of calm technologycalm technology, when , when technology recedes into the technology recedes into the background of our lives background of our lives

What Ubiquitous What Ubiquitous Computing isn’tComputing isn’t The opposite of Virtual RealityThe opposite of Virtual Reality

– virtual reality puts people inside a virtual reality puts people inside a computer-generated world, computer-generated world, ubiquitous computing forces the ubiquitous computing forces the computer to live out here in the computer to live out here in the world with peopleworld with people

What Ubiquitous What Ubiquitous Computing isn’tComputing isn’t Although ubiquitous computers Although ubiquitous computers

may employ sound and video may employ sound and video much more than text and much more than text and graphics, but it is not merely a graphics, but it is not merely a “Multimedia Computer” “Multimedia Computer”

It’s a revolution in human-It’s a revolution in human-computer interactioncomputer interaction

UbiComp—Third Wave UbiComp—Third Wave in Computing in Computing Phase I — MainframePhase I — Mainframe

– One computer, many peopleOne computer, many people Phase II — Personal ComputerPhase II — Personal Computer

– One person, one computerOne person, one computer Transition Phase Transition Phase

– Internet and Distributed computing Internet and Distributed computing Phase III — Ubiquitous ComputingPhase III — Ubiquitous Computing

– One person, many computersOne person, many computers

UbiComp—Third Wave UbiComp—Third Wave in Computingin Computing

Source: www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/UbiHome.html

Initial Incarnation in Initial Incarnation in Ubiquitous Computing Ubiquitous Computing

““Tabs”, “pads”, and “boards” built Tabs”, “pads”, and “boards” built at Xerox PARC, 1988-1994 at Xerox PARC, 1988-1994

Calm TechnologyCalm Technology

A calm technology moves easily A calm technology moves easily from the from the peripheryperiphery of our of our attention to the attention to the centercenter, and back. , and back.

Periphery and CenterPeriphery and Center

PeripheryPeriphery– Something we are attuned to Something we are attuned to

without attending to explicitly without attending to explicitly

CenterCenter– Something we explicitly take control Something we explicitly take control

ofof

So, what is a Calm So, what is a Calm Technology?Technology?

A comfortable pair of A comfortable pair of shoes?shoes?

Or a Personal Or a Personal Computer?Computer?

The Final Aim of The Final Aim of UbiCompUbiComp

To make computing Calm To make computing Calm TechnologyTechnology

Signs of Calm Signs of Calm TechnologyTechnology

A Calm Technology A Calm Technology easily moves from center to easily moves from center to

periphery and backperiphery and back enhances our enhances our peripheral reachperipheral reach

– Ex. Video conference with phone Ex. Video conference with phone conferenceconference

puts us at home, in a familiar puts us at home, in a familiar placeplace

Life With Ubiquitous Life With Ubiquitous ComputersComputers

Ubiquitous Computing will make Ubiquitous Computing will make our world more convenientour world more convenient

It will make our world into a It will make our world into a computer-aided one – but computer-aided one – but withoutwithout information overload. information overload.

Part 2Part 2

Current Ubicomp ResearchCurrent Ubicomp Research

A ubicomp prototype – A ubicomp prototype – Interactive Interactive WorkspacesWorkspaces Development Development

began at began at Stanford in Stanford in 19991999

Collection of Collection of many many different different smaller smaller software software systemssystems

Interactive Interactive WorkspacesWorkspaces PurposePurpose

team-based collaboration in team-based collaboration in technology augmented environmentstechnology augmented environments

Social protocols determine which Social protocols determine which tools team members use at any tools team members use at any given time, instead of: given time, instead of: –making environment itself “smart”making environment itself “smart”–attempting to anticipate user needsattempting to anticipate user needs

Interactive Interactive WorkspacesWorkspaces Application projectsApplication projects

– Construction project managementConstruction project management– Interactive learningInteractive learning– Product designProduct design

Interactive Interactive WorkspacesWorkspaces

iwork_scenario.rmiwork_scenario.rm

Interactive Interactive Workspaces – Workspaces – Workspace DevicesWorkspace Devices Large, interactive, Large, interactive,

high-resolution wall-high-resolution wall-mounted and mounted and tabletop displaystabletop displays

PDAsPDAs LaptopsLaptops Tabletop scannersTabletop scanners Wireless LCD Wireless LCD

displaysdisplays Pan-and-tilt camerasPan-and-tilt cameras

Interactive Interactive Workspaces -Workspaces -Systems IntegrationSystems Integration Event HeapEvent Heap

– Centralized event exchange Centralized event exchange system for workspace devicessystem for workspace devices

PointRightPointRight– system that allows a single system that allows a single

mouse and keyboard to mouse and keyboard to control multiple screens control multiple screens

– PointRight.rmPointRight.rm BarehandsBarehands

– Implement-free interaction Implement-free interaction with a wall-mounted displaywith a wall-mounted display

Challenges for Challenges for Ubicomp (1)Ubicomp (1)

Privacy / trust issuesPrivacy / trust issues– ““one rotten apple”one rotten apple”

Component interactionComponent interaction– Components must be designed in open, Components must be designed in open,

extensible mannerextensible manner– Assurances in performance, security, reliabilityAssurances in performance, security, reliability

Flexibility / adaptabilityFlexibility / adaptability– Ubicomp environments inherently subject to Ubicomp environments inherently subject to

changechange System Management mechanisms, policiesSystem Management mechanisms, policies

– As components --> infinityAs components --> infinity

Challenges for Challenges for Ubicomp (2)Ubicomp (2)

Viable economic modelsViable economic models– Without killer app, no one wants itWithout killer app, no one wants it– But the killer app is the combination of many But the killer app is the combination of many

small mundane appssmall mundane apps UI integrationUI integration

– How to make it consistent, usable, obvious, How to make it consistent, usable, obvious, invisibleinvisible

Conclusion: Conclusion: Emerging Commercial Emerging Commercial Ubicomp SystemsUbicomp Systems Railcar TelematicsRailcar Telematics

– position, temperature, acceleration, position, temperature, acceleration, and weight sensorsand weight sensors

– Just-in-time billing, railcar handling, Just-in-time billing, railcar handling, securitysecurity

Multimedia response centerMultimedia response center– Takes advantage of pervasive Takes advantage of pervasive

camera phonescamera phones– 911 emergency calls, reporting 911 emergency calls, reporting

crimecrime