The general meaning for Ubiquitous computing is existing or being every where at the same time. The idea behind ubiquitous computing is to surround ourselves with computers and software that are carefully tuned to offer us unobtrusive assistance as we navigate through our work and personal lives. Contrast this with the world of computers as we know them now.Ubiquitous computing touches on a wide range of research topics, including distributed computing, mobile computing, sensor networks, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence.
Recognizing that the extension of processing power into everyday scenarios would necessitate understandings of social, cultural and psychological phenomena beyond its proper ambit, Weiser were influenced by many fields outside computer science, including “philosophy, phenomenology, anthropology, psychology, post-Modernism, sociology of science and feminist criticism." He was explicit about "the humanistic origins of the ‘invisible ideal in post-modernist thought'"
Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is a post-desktop model of human-computer interaction in which information processing has been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. In the course of ordinary activities, someone "using" ubiquitous computing engages many computational devices and systems simultaneously, and may not necessarily even be aware that they are doing so. This model is usually considered advancement from the desktop paradigm.
Recognizing that the extension of processing power into everyday scenarios would necessitate understandings of social, cultural and psychological phenomena beyond its proper ambit, Weiser were influenced by many fields outside computer science, including “philosophy, phenomenology, anthropology, psychology, post-Modernism, sociology of science and feminist criticism." He was explicit about "the humanistic origins of the ‘invisible ideal in post-modernist thought'"
Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is a post-desktop model of human-computer interaction in which information processing has been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. In the course of ordinary activities, someone "using" ubiquitous computing engages many computational devices and systems simultaneously, and may not necessarily even be aware that they are doing so. This model is usually considered advancement from the desktop paradigm.
This paradigm is also described as pervasive computing, ambient intelligence. When primarily concerning the objects involved, it is also physical computing, the Internet of Things, haptic computing, and things that think. Rather than propose a single definition for ubiquitous computing and for these related terms, taxonomy of properties for ubiquitous computing has been proposed, from which different kinds or flavors of ubiquitous systems and applications can be described.
The promise of ubiquitous computing is of a life in which our endeavors are powerfully, though subtly, assisted by computers. The idealistic visions painted by the ubiquitous computing movement stand in stark contrast to what we see when we boot up our computers each day. There is an immediate barrier because you have to know how to use a computer to use a computer. If you sat down in front of a computer without knowing how to use a mouse, would you be able to get anything done? It’s unlikely. The computer won’t help you, either, since you have to know how to use the computer to ask it for help on how to use it! When computers do offer assistance, it still tends to fall short of the mark. Much application software tries to cater to new users and power users alike by offering simple, task-focused “wizards” and detailed help systems. Unfortunately, the wizards are often too limited to offer sufficient power for day-to-day use, and the help systems often don’t cope well with the many ways in which a user can express a need for a given piece of information. The next step, of course, is to go down to the local bookstore and buy a book that is four inches thick and weighs five pounds and that promises to give straightforward instruction on how to use the program in question. Most of us get by just fine on the tasks we are well-used to performing. However, there should be an easier route.
The promise of ubiquitous computing is of a life in which our endeavors are powerfully, though subtly, assisted by computers. The idealistic visions painted by the ubiquitous computing movement stand in stark contrast to what we see when we boot up our computers each day. There is an immediate barrier because you have to know how to use a computer to use a computer. If you sat down in front of a computer without knowing how to use a mouse, would you be able to get anything done? It’s unlikely. The computer won’t help you, either, since you have to know how to use the computer to ask it for help on how to use it! When computers do offer assistance, it still tends to fall short of the mark. Much application software tries to cater to new users and power users alike by offering simple, task-focused “wizards” and detailed help systems. Unfortunately, the wizards are often too limited to offer sufficient power for day-to-day use, and the help systems often don’t cope well with the many ways in which a user can express a need for a given piece of information. The next step, of course, is to go down to the local bookstore and buy a book that is four inches thick and weighs five pounds and that promises to give straightforward instruction on how to use the program in question. Most of us get by just fine on the tasks we are well-used to performing. However, there should be an easier route.
We are still a long way away from seeing the promise of ubiquitous computing fulfilled. Yet, physical barriers to ubiquitous computing are falling, thanks to technological advances such as nanotechnology and wireless computing. Further, as we have argued, software is getting easier to use all the time. As the themes of context-awareness and natural interaction are adopted by hardware and software makers, we will begin to see successive approximations of ubiquitous computing. There are many issues to resolve and a steep learning curve to face as we consider this close integration of computers into our lives. As I-O psychologists, we will benefit ourselves and our field by carefully examining the promises and implications that ubiquitous computing holds for us, and then adapting our products, services, and policies appropriately.
UbiComp Applications:
• U-Agri
• U-Health
• U-security
• U-Governance
• Intrusion detection
• U-Learning and many more…
