Lecture #1: Introduction
Hao-hua Chu ( 朱浩華 )
1

30-minute Introduction
2

• Be different (better) from last year
– Still formulate the topics
– Reading reference list will be finalized next week.
• UbiComp vision
• Context-aware, smart object
• Tangible interaction
• Ambient display
• Persuasive computing
• Cyber-physical systems
3

• To prepare us (students and faculty) for research in UbiComp research.
• Learning by in-class discussion
• Learning by projects
• Learning by reading & listening papers
4

• Develop your own belief where digital technology is going
• Learn research experiences
– Scenario, problem definition, related work survey, design & implementation, evaluation, etc.
– Reading, writing, and presentation skills
5

• This is a research seminar course, so everyone (faculty and students) will contribute to the learning process.
– Idea generation & discussion
– Project presentation
– Paper presentation
• UbiComp is a new, fast changing field, so faculty may not know all materials.
6

• Precise details are yet to be determined.
• Take-home (individual) & in-class (group) exercises
– Add an ambient display to your most favorite everyday object to enhance that most “favorite” aspect.
– Think about one of your bad habits – come up with persuasive technology to correct your bad habit.
– Upload & share exercise answers on course WiKi
• In class [may or may not] discuss 3+ papers on a specific topic.
– Papers are used as reference for exercises
7

• Rapid research prototype of an UBICOMP application in one semester.
– The project ideas come from take-home or in-class exercises.
– Push you to do some research
– Find a fit with your current research
– Learn some team work
8

• Define motivation scenario
(an interesting story)
– Emphasize the parts of scenario where it is currently not possible, but with your idea, it will become possible.
– Show me a proof-of-concept demo prototype
• Survey related work
• Design
– Differentiate your work from related work
– What’s new? Why is it significant?
• Rapid prototype implementation
• Evaluation of prototype implementation
– Define evaluation metrics
– Experiments & user studies
• Shoot a video & write a report
9

• Phase 1: project idea presentation (4 weeks)
– Fun, realizable within one semester time framework and computing equipments, has a research component.
– [Scenario]
• Phase 2: project proposal document (4 weeks)
– Form teams, define goals, plan, and needed equipments.
– [Problems, related work, and design]
• Phase 3: progress checkpoint (4 weeks)
– [Preliminary prototype, evaluation metrics]
• Phase 4: project working prototype and final report (4 weeks)
– Working prototype demonstration
10

• You may have already seen some of them …
11

• NTU Zigbee Taroko nodes
• Crossbow motes
• Nokia and Windows CE Smart phones
• Smart phones (iPhone & HTC
Diamond)
• Sparkfun Sensors: light, tilt, temperature, accelerometer, pressure, weight, orientation, ultrasound, etc.
• Philgets RFID kits
12

• Passive RFID tags & readers (Skyetek and Alien)
• Biometric sensors (heart rate, BVP, GSR, etc.)
• Projectors
• WiFi based location systems (ekahau.com)
• Ultrasound-based positioning systems (Navinote or Cricket motes)
• LCD TV
• Use your imagination
– Anything you can find on the Internet or from your own lab …
– However, budget may be limited 
13

• Class Participation (? %)
• Project (? %)
14

• Class attendance (MUST!)
– Please don’t register if you are going to miss many classes.
• Must be able to talk & exchange ideas with others
• Creativity
• Good programming skill
• Willing to learn hardware/software skills (by yourself)
• Willing to spend extra time & efforts than what a regular course would need
15

• TA: Ted
• Please tell us about:
– Current (future) research area, interests, & faculty advisor
– Background
• Hardware skills
• Software programming skills (C/C++, Java)
• User interface
• Computer vision and sensors
• Interdisciplinary
• Mandarin - English (presentation, reading, and writing)
• [We need to select one language in which everyone is comfortable using for in-class discussion]
– Why are you interested in this course?
16

http://mll.csie.ntu.edu.tw/course/ubicomp_s09/
17

<Collect Students’ Email Addresses>
18