Pervasive Computing

Dr Andy HuntElectronics Dept, University of York

What’s in this room ?

� Anything electronic

� which processes information

� Typically we find . . .� 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?� 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 HuntElectronics Dept, University of York

Session overview

� History of Computing Development

� Earliest computing technology

� Main phases of development

� Where we are now� 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� 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� Energy made pervasive� Application-driven devices

� Battery power

� Miniaturisation.

Information processing

� Humans used own brainpower� Helped by paper

� and devices

� Computer revolution� Computer revolution� Information was harnessed

� Expanding human mental power

� In specific location

� 1940s: IBM president

1946: ENIAC: Electronic Numerical

Integrator and Computer

I think there is a

world market for

about five

computers.

Thomas J WatsonMAINFRAME

ERA

Information Processing (2)

� Computing Decentralised

� Bill Gates (early 1970s)

� PCs

Laptops

IBM 360 mid 1960s

PERSONAL

COMPUTING

ERA

� Laptops PDP-11: early 1970s

IBM PC (DOS) 1981

Sub-notebooks mid-2000s IBM PC Convertible 1986One Laptop per Child: 2007

Wireless

Self-powered

Multimedia

Rugged

< £70

A computer on

every desktop and

in every home

ERA

Information Processing (3)

� Devices which do not looklike computers, but :� Process data

� Store information

Connect to:

PERVASIVE

COMPUTING� Connect to:

� Other devices

� and/or the Internet

� Pervasive Computing� Focus on the application

� Often portable, low-power, connected.

COMPUTING

ERA

Computing Eras

� Mainframe� Many people, one computer

� Fixed, central location

� PC� PC� 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)

� The purpose of a computer is to help you do something else

The best computer is a quiet, invisible servant

Mark Weiser: 1952-99

� 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� Local or mobile devices

� Information is ‘networked’

� Diversification� Specialised tasks

• Laptop

• Mobile phone

• Games console� Specialised tasks

� e.g. Internet access on

� Connectivity� Data exchanged between devices

� Wireless connection / internet

� Simplicity� Seamless interfaces, intuitive, calm.

• Games console

• Palm PDA

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� 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� History

� Topics

� Principles

Assignment� Assignment� Meet in your groups

� Start discussing your topic & management

� Next Time

� Human-Computer Interaction.