Pervasive Computing
Dr Andy Hunt
Electronics Dept, University of York
What’s in this room ?
Anything electronic
Typically we find . . .
which processes information
Mobile Phones
PDAs
Clever Watches
Laptop computers
Games consoles
Mp3 players
Any other info processing devices?
What else is here?
Passive information storage
Bank cards with chip-&-pin
Products with RFID tag
Anyone got a device inside?
Pacemaker
Diabetic insulin release.
Hitachi’s 0.4mm2 RFID tag
Assignment: Topics
Group 1: Wearable computing:
current technology and future trends
Group 2: Technology convergence:
the future of the mobile phone / PDA / TV etc.
Group 3: User interfaces of the future
Group 4: Wireless connectivity:
technical issues in an increasingly wireless world
Group 5: Future integration of the Internet
and Pervasive Computing applications
Pervasive Computing
History and Key Topics
Dr Andy Hunt
Electronics Dept, University of York
Session overview
History of Computing Development
Earliest computing technology
Main phases of development
Where we are now
Principles of Pervasive Computing
Main features of devices & networks
Topics covered by books & journals.
Energy processing
Humans used own energy
Helped by animals
and devices
Industrial revolution
Energy was harnessed
or generated (e.g. steam engines)
Expanding human physical power
In specific locations.
Energy processing (2)
Energy decentralised
Power stations
National Grid – distributed power
Individual engines – mobility
Energy made pervasive
Application-driven devices
Battery power
Miniaturisation.
Information processing
Humans used own brainpower
Helped by paper
and devices
Computer revolution
Information was harnessed
Expanding human mental power
In specific location
1940s: IBM president
MAINFRAME
ERA
I think there is a
world market for
about five
computers.
Thomas J Watson
1946: ENIAC: Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer
Information Processing (2)
Computing Decentralised
Bill Gates (early 1970s)
PERSONAL
PCs
COMPUTING
ERA
Laptops
A computer on
IBM 360 mid 1960s
Wireless
Self-powered
Multimedia
Rugged
< £70
PDP-11: early 1970s
every desktop and
in every home
IBM PC (DOS) 1981
One Laptop per Child: 2007
Sub-notebooks mid-2000s
IBM PC Convertible 1986
Information Processing (3)
Devices which do not look
like computers, but :
Process data
Store information
Connect to:
Other devices
and/or the Internet
PERVASIVE
COMPUTING
ERA
Pervasive Computing
Focus on the application
Often portable, low-power, connected.
Computing Eras
Mainframe
PC
Many people, one computer
Fixed, central location
One person, one computer
Fixed location, decentralised
Pervasive (Ubiquitous)
One person, many computers
Mobile
Principles of Pervasive Computing
1990s: Mark Weiser (Xerox PARC)
First to talk about Ubiquitous Computing
Weiser’s principles (source Wikipedia)
Mark Weiser: 1952-99
The purpose of a computer is to help you do something else
The best computer is a quiet, invisible servant
The more you can do by intuition the smarter you are;the computer should extend your unconscious
Technology should create calm.
Please read “The Computer for the 21st Century” (1991)
http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/SciAmDraft3.html
More information here: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/weiser/
Principles of Pervasive Computing (2)
Decentralisation
Diversification
Specialised tasks
e.g. Internet access on
• Laptop
• Mobile phone
• Games console
• Palm PDA
Connectivity
Local or mobile devices
Information is ‘networked’
Data exchanged between devices
Wireless connection / internet
Simplicity
Seamless interfaces, intuitive, calm.
What should I be reading / viewing?
Google! – search also for “Ubiquitous Computing”
YouTube
Lots of info posted from 2006
Everyware- The dawning age of ubiquitous computing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMXox8IJvmE
8-part talk by Adam Greenfield
Covers history, principles, devices, discussion of future
Course Books (library)
http://www.computer.org/portal/site/pervasive/
Summary
Pervasive Computing
Assignment
History
Topics
Principles
Meet in your groups
Start discussing your topic & management
Next Time
Human-Computer Interaction.