The Computer for the 21st Century Mark Weiser, Xerox, 1991

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The Computer for the 21st CenturyMark Weiser,
Xerox, 1991

• 2003. 04. 28
• Kugsang Jeong
• (handeum_at_iat.chonnam.ac.kr)

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• Specialized elements of hardware and software
• connected by wires, radio waves and infrared
• will be so ubiquitous that no one will notice
  their presence

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Background

• Profound technologies
• will be disappeared
• writing, electric motors ? ubiquitous
• silicon-based information technology ? not yet
• new way of thinking about computers
• Human world, and computers in background
• free to use them without thinking
• Thats ubiquitous computing

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Ubiquitous - embodied virtuality

• Ubiquitous vs. virtual reality
• integrating computers into the world vs. making a
  world inside the computer
• enhancing the world that already exist vs.
  simulating the world
• Already computers help to activate the world
• Light switch, thermostats, stereos and ovens
• will be inerconnected in a ubiquitous network

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Two issues on Ubiquitous

• Focus on devices to transmit/display info.
• Location
• U.Computers must know where they are
• If then, can adapt its behavior without A.I
• Scale
• U.Computers will come in size suited to a task
• Tabs, pads, board-size writing and display
  surfaces ? hundreds of computers per room

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Examples Active Badge

• Developed by Olivetti cambridge research lab.
• Kind of tabs(inch-scale computer), ID card size
• micro processor, infrared transmitter
• Receivers are placed through building
• So it can keep track of people or objects
• Function trigger automatic doors, automatic
  telephone forwarding, computer displays
• Not A.I, just embedded computers

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Examples Pads

• Prototype developed by PARC
• Two micro processors, workstation-size display,
  multibutton stylus, radio nework
• Portable computers vs. pads
• Go everywhere vs. be anywhere
• display screen vs. real desk
• Can spread pads around on the desk just as papers
  within the reach of your arms
• Function not mentioned, maybe read/write/save
  files

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Examples boards

• Prototype developed by PARC
• 40 by 60 inches, 1024x768
• wireless chalk to manipulate the display
• function display screens, bulletin boards, white
  boards, bookcase
• Experiment for sharing boards
• Can be shared two boards across Atlantic
• so it shows that all boards can be shared

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Interaction between devices

• Prototype taps, pads, and boards are just devices
  
• The Real power of ubiquitous computing comes from
  the interaction of all devices

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Requirements of Ubicom tech.

• Cheap, low-power computers
• Software for ubi. applications
• Network that ties computers all together

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Computers for ubicom.

• prices is falling
• Performance is improving
• Display, processor, auxiliary storage
• ? we can think that computers can be capable of
  offering ubiquitous computing

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Software for ubicom.

• Distributed computing
• can use file servers, printers, etc as if they
  were connected directly to each users computer
• Dont exploit the unique capabilities of
  physically dispersed computer and the information
  for devices location

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Software for ubicom.

• OS(Dos, Unix) have to change
• Design based on assumption that H/w s/w
  configuration wont change while running
• But Ubiquitous devices may come and go at any
  time in anywhere
• Solution micro-kernel that contain only the
  barest fixed computer code. S/w modules can be
  added and removed
• Window display have to change
• Multiple screen but cant peregrinate from
  compter to computer or room to room
• Solution communication between applications and
  displayed windows

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Network for ubicom.

• Data transmission rates
• Both wired and wireless are increasing rapidly
• become cheaper
• Need new communications protocols
• to recognize that machines can move in physical
  space
• such as mobile IP
• wireless network for ubicom.
• The number of Channels is small, the range is
  large
• enough channel for hundreds of machines in every
  rooom, and work only indoors (single room
  network)
• Need single network connection for mobile device
• Tiny-range wireless, long-range wireless, high
  speed wired

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Social issues in ubicom.

• Privacy
• A tab can record everything that happened in a
  room
• Unpleasant use by superiors/underlings/officials/f
  irms
• cryptographic technologies
• Human relation
• Conventional PC results in centripetal forces
• But ubicom. can more aware of the people on the
  other links and make communities closer
• suppose people who just are looking at computer
  screen not their fellows

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Conclusion

• believe that ubiquitous computing
• will gradually emerge as the dominant mode of
  computer over the next 20 years
• is noting new
• is to make everything faster and easier to do
• Ubiquitous computing
• help overcome the problem of information overload
• Machines that fit the human environment will make
  using a computer refresh