What Makes Good Application-Led Research in Ubiquitous Personal Workspace?

Ubiquitous or pervasive computing covers a broad trend towards increasingly connected computing devices in the environment, which is brought about by a convergence of advanced wireless technologies and the Internet. Pervasive computing devices tend to be tiny, even invisible, either mobile or embedded in almost any type of object imaginable, including toys, cars, tools, appliances, clothing and various consumer goods communicating through increasingly interconnected networks. The field of ubiquitous computing is still very young. The goal of researchers in this emerging field is to create a system that is pervasively and unobtrusively embedded in the environment, completely connected, intuitive, effortlessly portable, and constantly available. With this research goal in mind, what makes good application-led research in ubiquitous computing? In this position paper, we attempt to find an answer to this question. This paper focuses on the personal workspace domain, which is envisioned to provide individuals with a ubiquitous computing-based workspace. In order to understand interesting research areas for this application, we first identify user needs of the applications; then, we categorize and abstract technical challenges. Finally, an approach for research in meeting the user needs and resolving the technical problems is suggested.

By: Nathan J. Lee; Juhnyoung Lee

Published in: RC23523 in 2005

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