Ubiquitous Computing

 

Pervasive computing (Ubiquitous Computing)

Pervasive computing, also called ubiquitous computing, is the growing trend of embedding computational capability (generally in the form of microprocessors) into everyday objects to make them effectively communicate and perform useful tasks in a way that minimizes the end user's need to interact with computers as computers.

Pervasive computing, also called ubiquitous computing, is the growing trend of embedding computational capability (generally in the form of microprocessors) into everyday objects to make them effectively communicate and perform useful tasks in a way that minimizes the end user's need to interact with computers as computers. Pervasive computing devices are network-connected and constantly available.

Unlike desktop computing, pervasive computing can occur with any device, at any time, in any place and in any data format across any network and can hand tasks from one computer to another as, for example, a user moves from his car to his office. Pervasive computing devices have evolved to include:

laptops;

notebooks;

smartphones;

tablets;

wearable devices;

and sensors (for example, on fleet management and pipeline components, lighting systems, appliances).

Often considered the successor to mobile computing, ubiquitous computing generally involves wireless communication and networking technologies, mobile devices, embedded systems, wearable computers, radio frequency ID (RFID) tags, middleware and software agents. Internet capabilities, voice recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) are often also included.

How ubiquitous computing is used

Pervasive computing applications have been designed for consumer use and to help people do their jobs.

An example of pervasive computing is an Apple Watch that alerts the user to a phone call and allows the call to be completed through the watch. Another example is when a registered user for Audible, Amazon's audio book server, starts his or her book using the Audible app on a smartphone on the train and continues listening to the book through Amazon Echo at home.

An environment in which devices, present everywhere, are capable of some form of computing can be considered a ubiquitous computing environment. Industries spending money on research and development (R&D) for ubiquitous computing include the following:

energy

entertainment

healthcare

logistics

military

Importance

        Because pervasive computing systems are capable of collecting, processing and communicating data, they can adapt to the data's context and activity. That means, in essence, a network that can understand its surroundings and improve the human experience and quality of life.

History

 

           Ubiquitous computing was first pioneered at the Olivetti Research Laboratory in Cambridge, England, where the Active Badge, a "clip-on computer" the size of an employee ID card, was created, enabling the company to track the location of people in a building, as well as the objects to which they were attached.