Ubiquitous Computing: Issues and Challenges Cynthia Chan Karina Hernandez Mahesh Kasinadhuni DPS Team 2 Spring 2003

Outline Overview – Goals, Issues and Challenges (MAHESH) Nomadicity, Wireless, Internet (MAHESH) SW Infrastructure in Ubiquitous Computing (KARINA) Application Design Challenges (KARINA) Future of Business Services (CYNTHIA) Social Issues in Ubiquitous Computing (CYNTHIA)

Overview- Issues and Challenges

Ubiquitous Computing Ubicomp – What it Isn’t ? Ubicomp is the opposite of Virtual Reality, VR ! Where VR puts people inside a computer-generated world, Ubicomp forces the computer to live in the world out there peopled VR is primarily a horse power problem Goal – Integrating Anthropology, Computer Sc. and Social Science – Fundamental Measure of Progress in Computing Involves rendering it as an inseparable part of our everyday experience while simultaneously making it disappear

Major Trends in Computing

Overview—Third Paradigm Computing Phase I One person many computers Advances in  OS and UI  Networks  Wireless  Microprocessor Cost/Perf. >>  Displays Activated the World Results  100s of wireless computing devices per person per office  Displays (1” to wall sized)  Compact devices to mediate support & organize all activities Phase II Computer – A Dramatic M/C Path I - Invisible Path Growth in Technology  Tabs  Pads  Boards Results  Prototypes failed to be invisible ! Ubicomp in Post-Modernism Path II (2000—2020) Focus  New Directions  Level of Embeddedness  Dangling String Display !  Nomadicity

Level of Embeddedness Low High Pervasive Computing Mobile Computing Traditional Business Computing Ubiquitous Computing Level of Mobility

Issues Today – As Technology becomes more embedded & integrated with mobility, the barriers between social and technical aspects become blurred – New Devices must integrate w/existing PCs – Nomadicity – Security and Fraud – Dangling String Display ! Challenges – Developing & Integrating Ubicomp services w/ Robust & Innovative mass-scale applications Integrating w/ Advances from Mobile & Pervasive Computing Internet provides the raw glue tying together PCs and Nomadics Issues & Challenges

Implications of Nomadicity Each person uses many devices Total Nomadic devices >> Number of People Large Number of Fixed Devices Many Computers embedded in the environment Nomadic devices must interact with fixed infrastructure Many Nomadic devices are essentially “PC Peripherals”

Wireless is Best for Nomadics Wireless avoids plug and unplug problems Moving hundreds of nomadic devices around is wire overload Wireless permits easy use of installed local infrastructure

Nomadic Infrastructure

SW Infrastructure

Three key characteristics:  Task Dynamism Available everywhere/any time  Device Heterogeneity and Resource Constraints Adapt to changing technological capabilities/hardware capabilities  Computing in a Social Environment

SW Infrastructure Challenges Semantic Modeling  Developing a modeling language  Developing and validating ontologies  Agreeing on shared ontology parts Building the Software Infrastructure  Determine which user tasks are most relevant  Finding and composing the appropriate components and services  Must be scalable

SW Infrastructure Developing and Configuring Applications  Composition of services, user interface, data flow among components  Reusable services Validating the user experience  Development of effective methods for testing and evaluating the user scenarios

Business Services Ubiquitous Computing will lead to Ubiquitous Commerce (right message, to the right person, at the right time!) Impact on Business Strategy – awareness, accessibility, responsiveness Point of Presence! Context! Change in nature of service providers (bursty, point-of-presence value, service level commitments) New services (businesses) will arise…

User Experience Balance user perception of complexity versus efficiency, effectiveness… interaction-based Environmental issues  Achieving network effects  Role of Context  User Experience (management) New challenges:  Internet access (multiple devices)  Available memory (truly personal devices)  Seamless access cross-networks  Online, offline interchangeability

Social Issues Potential detrimental management behavior: log tracing, non-guidance. Work can occur anytime, anywhere becomes all- the-time, everywhere. Must study behavior and adaptation to ubiquitous computing at the Individual, (Virtual) Team, and (Virtual) organization level

Summary Unlimited access computing with anytime/anyplace capabilities introduces powerful new technology into organizations. The cost of Nomadicity will plummet  Ubicomp predicts the $5 Nomadic PC peripheral  Infra Structure crucial  Short range wireless Technology required needs development  Public Wireless accepts points a key Infra structure  IR, Infra Red use will grow rapidly

Summary The biggest challenges merging ubiquitous and wearable computing deal with fitting the computer to the human in terms of:  Interface.  Cognitive model.  Contextual awareness.  Adaptation to tasks being performed. Wearable computers are an attractive way to deliver a ubiquitous computing system’s interface to a user, especially in non-office-building environment.

Summary Ubiquitous computing is about interconnected hardware and software that are so ubiquitous that no one notices their presence. Ubiquitous will enable people to focus on their tasks and on interacting with other people.

Summary Ubiquitous computing enables businesses to redefine the key aspects of their customer relationships. Businesses can become continuously aware of their customers needs and provide more natural and powerful means of access to their services. Ubiquitous computing enables innovative forms of social action, novel organizational forms, and new business models.

Main References Daniel P. Siewiorek, “New Frontier of Application Design”, Communications of ACM, December 2002 Guruduth Banavar, Abrahan Bernstein. “Software Infrastructure and Design Challenges for Ubiquitous Computing Applications”, Communications of ACM, December 2002 Andrew Fano, Anatole Gershman. “The Future of Business Services in the Age of Ubiquitous Computing”, Communications of ACM, December 2002 Leonard M. Jessup, Daniel Robey. “The Relevance of Social Issues in Ubiquitous Computing Environments”, Communications of ACM, December 2002 Kalle Lyytinen and Youngjin Yoo, “Issues and Challenges in Ubiquitous Computing”, Communications of ACM, December Gordon B. Davis, “Anytim/Anyplace Computing and the Future of Knowledge Work, Communications of ACM December Nayeem Islam and Mohamed Fayad, “Toward Ubiquitous Acceptance of Ubiquitous Computing”, Communications of the ACM, February 2003 W. Keith Edwards, Mark W. Newman, Jana Z. Sedivy, “Building the Ubiquitous Computing User Experience” by, CHI 2001, March 31 Steve Talbott, “The Trouble with Ubiquitous Technology Pushers” Mark Weiser, “Some Computer Science Issues in Ubiquitous Computing”, March 23, 93