TITLE: ……….
Author Name: your name
Email ID:
Abstract
The objective of the paper is to provide a descriptive, analytical, and comprehensive assessment of factors, trends, and issues in the ever-changing field of pervasive computing. This authoritative research-based publication also offers in-depth explanations of mobile solutions and their specific applications areas. This timely reference source provides direction for future researchers to pursue when examining issues in the field, and is also the perfect tool for practitioners interested in applying pioneering concepts in practical situations.
Keywords
ad-hoc networking - ambient intelligence - context-aware computing - embedded systems - location-aware services - pervasive computing - privacy - sensor networks - smart applications - ubiquitous computing - wearable devices
- Introduction
Pervasive Computing is a computing technology that
pervades the users’ environment by making use of seamless
connectivity of multiple independent information devices. Pervasive computing is a rapidly developing area of
Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The
term refers to the increasing integration of ICT into
people’s lives and environments, made possible by the
growing availability of microprocessors with inbuilt
communications facilities. Pervasive computing has
many potential applications, from health and home care
to environmental monitoring and intelligent transport
systems. This briefing provides an overview of pervasive
computing and discusses the growing debate over
privacy, safety and environmental implications.
embedded in the environment of the users.
- Details
Pervasive computing offers a vision of the future where computers and computing devices will be available naturally and unobtrusively every where, anytime, and by different means in our daily living, working, learning, business, infotainment environments. Tremendous opportunities exist for novel services/applications that are more immersive, more intelligent, and more interactive in both real and cyber spaces.
Pervasive computing (also called ubiquitous computing) is the growing trend towards embedding microprocessors in everyday objects so they can communicate information. The words pervasive and ubiquitous mean "existing everywhere." Pervasive computing devices are completely connected and constantly available.
Pervasive computing relies on the convergence of wireless technologies, advanced electronics and the Internet. The goal of researchers working in pervasive computing is to create smart products that communicate unobtrusively. The products are connected to the Internet and the data they generate is easily available.
An example of a practical application of pervasive computing is the replacement of old electric meters with smart meters. In the past, electric meters had to be manually read by a company representative. Smart meters report usage in real-time over the Internet. They will also notify the power company when there is an outage, reset thermostats according to the homeowner's directives, send messages to display units in the home and regulatethe water heater.
- Pervasive computing technologies
Pervasive computing involves three converging areas of
ICT: computing (‘devices’), communications
(‘connectivity’) and ‘user interfaces’.
3.1Devices
PCS devices are likely to assume many different forms
and sizes, from handheld units (similar to mobile phones)
to near-invisible devices set into ‘everyday’ objects (like
furniture and clothing). These will all be able to
communicate with each other and act ‘intelligently’. Such
devices can be separated into three categories:
• sensors: input devices that detect environmental
changes, user behaviours, human commands etc;
• processors: electronic systems that interpret and
analyse input-data;
• actuators: output devices that respond to processed
information by altering the environment via electronic
or mechanical means. For example, air temperature
control is often done with actuators. However the term
can also refer to devices which deliver information,
rather than altering the environment physically.
3.2Connectivity
Pervasive computing systems will rely on the interlinking
of independent electronic devices into broader networks.
This can be achieved via both wired (such as Broadband
(ADSL) or Ethernet) and wireless networking technologies
(such as WiFi or Bluetooth), with the devices themselves
being capable of assessing the most effective form of
connectivity in any given scenario. The effective
development of pervasive computing systems depends on
their degree of interoperability, as well as on the
convergence of standards for wired and wireless
technologies.
3.3User interfaces
User interfaces represent the point of contact between
ICT and human users. For example with a personal
computer, the mouse and keyboard are used to input
information, while the monitor usually provides the
output. With PCS, new user interfaces are being
developed that will be capable of sensing and supplying
more information about users, and the broader
environment, to the computer for processing.
- Pervasive computing history
Pervasive computing is the third wave of computing
technologies to emerge since computers first appeared:
• First Wave - Mainframe computing era: one computer
shared by many people, via workstations.
• Second Wave - Personal computing era: one computer
used by one person, requiring a conscious interaction.
Users largely bound to desktop.
• Third Wave – Pervasive (initially called ubiquitous)
computing era: one person, many computers. Millions
of computers embedded in the environment, allowing
technology to recede into the background.
- Applications
Pervasive computing could have a range of applications,
many of which may not yet have been identified.
Applications in healthcare, home care, transport and
environmental monitoring are among the most frequently
cited, as discussed below. Research is taking place in
industry and academia, often collaboratively, and some
government activities are underway.
- Issues
There are engineering problems to be solved before many
of the envisaged applications of PCS can become a
reality. Moreover, the operation of PCS raises questions
over privacy, security, safety and environmental impact.
Many of these issues occur already with ICT such as the
Internet or mobile phones. However the potential
ubiquity and integration of PCS into the environment
pose additional challenges.
- Conclusion
There is a wide range of potential benefits for
government, service providers and consumers as
computing technologies become more pervasive.
• There is debate over how to address concerns over
privacy, security, safety and sustainability while still
realising the benefits of pervasive computing.
• Such concerns may need to be addressed by means of
voluntary guidelines, legislative measures, physical
design, or a combination of these.
• Many say there is a need for greater public debate on
the implications of pervasive computing.
- References
[ACM93] Communications of the ACM, July 1993.
[Kay 91]. Kay, Alan. Computers, Networks, and Education. Scientific American, September 1991. pp. 138-148.
[Lave 91]. Lave, Jean. Situated learning: legitimate peripheral participation. CambridgeUniversity Press. Cambridge. New York, NY. 1991.
[Suchman 85]. Suchman, Lucy A. Plans and Situated Actions: The problem of human-machine communication. Xerox PARC Technical Report ISL-6. February 1985
[Tesler 91]. Tesler, Lawrence G. Networked Computing in the 1990's. Scientific American, September 1991. pp. 86-93.
[Usenix93] Proceedings from the Mobile and Location-Independent Computing Symposium. USENIX Association, 2560 Ninth Street, Suite 215, Berkeley, CA94710.
[Weiser91] Weiser, Mark. The Computer for the Twenty-First Century. Scientific American. September 1991. pp. 94-104.