Pervasive Computing: What Do Users Want

1
Pervasive ComputingWhat Do Users Want?

• Elizabeth Royer
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• eroyer_at_alpha.ece.ucsb.edu

2
Question What do you think of when you hear the
term pervasive computing?

• an inevitable trend
• feel excited and anxious
• convenient access to relevant information
• computing power in all kinds of devices, for all
  kinds of purposes
• every device with a modicum of memory and a small
  microprocessor all networked together
• computers everywhere

3
Question How do you feel about the idea of
computers in everything, all of which are
networked together?

• its cool, and theres lots of potential in it
• great concept. It makes the notion of the
  Jetsons much more a reality
• excited by the possibilities
• in some cases it could be unnecessarily expensive
  or extraneous, otherwise it seems really cool
• apprehensive about the risks
• not too good. The idea is loony and scary.
• concerned about reliability

4
Question Which of the following would you use
to describe your feelings towards pervasive
computing?

• Excited by technological challenges 100 of
  techies
• Excited by ability to control household items
  remotely 92
• Excited by possibility of more easily networking
  personal devices 75
• Excited by the potential availability of
  information 75
• Concerned about privacy 83
• Concerned about security 83
• Too many devices 42

5
Pervasive Computing The idea that computers are
embedded in everything, all of which are
networked together. You will be able to adjust
the setting of your home air conditioner before
you leave work, check the integrity of your home
security system while you are away, and
seamlessly synchronize the data in your personal
computing devices...
6
Responses...

• pervasive computing is great and will improve the
  quality of life
• I would love this!
• need a border line between usefulness and
  nonsense
• I like it as long as the privacy and security
  issues are addressed
• expensive

7
Pervasive computing The idea that computers are
embedded in everything, all of which are
networked together. When you are walking down
the street, you will be able to receive menus
from nearby restaurants, or advertisements from
stores announcing sales. You will be able to
walk into any office in your department, and your
phone calls will be automatically transferred
there by the location tracking system...
8
Responses...

• I like it as long as I have the ability to turn
  these features off
• Im not really sure I want to be that wired. It
  seems that we would have to be willing to forgo
  some of our personal privacy.
• too much information. too little control.
• this seems more intrusive.
• thats what I really need - more advertisements

9
What can we learn from this?
10
Users want...

• Control
• Reliability
• Security

11

• How can we filter data so that the user is not
  bombarded with unnecessary and unwanted
  information?
• How can we build reliable systems and ensure they
  do the right thing when it malfunctions?
• How can we incorporate security so that only the
  user can control his/her property?

12
What does this mean?
Ashbys Law of Requisite Variety is precluded by
the limits of such systems to make all
information available with equal weight. Degrees
of selection freedom are limited by the
discretion/capacity of the apparti. That leaves
the door open for buying influence and unfunded
or weakly funded entities dying before having a
chance to live or develop. It is a problematic
issue, separate from the capacity to deliver such
an information system.