Ubiquitous Computing Applications and Research Opportunities Jorge Luis Victória Barbosa Apply Computing Graduate Program (Pipca) University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos) São Leopoldo, Brazil [email protected] Abstract—About 25 years ago, Mark Weiser introduced the In this sense, ubiquitous computing has found application concept of Ubiquitous Computing. Ten years later, Mahadev in a diverse range of knowledge areas, such as, health [9], Satyanarayanan revisited and reinforced the concept by commerce [10], competence management [11], learning [12]– publishing studies focused on components and architectures to [14], logistics [15], [16], accessibility [17] and games [18]. achieve the Pervasive Computing (synonym of ubiquitous computing). Since then, this computational paradigm has This article discusses the ubiquitous computing through received increasing attention from researchers. Significantly, three perspectives, namely, progress of involved technologies, recent years have witnessed the proliferation of various emergent applications and research opportunities. The text is technologies that enable the implementation of ubiquitous strongly guided by studies conducted in the Laboratory of systems such as Location Systems and Location-based Services Research on Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing (MobiLab1) at (LBSs). Furthermore, the application of ubiquitous computing in the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos2) which is different knowledge areas has increasingly been studied, covering located in Southern Brazil. areas such as health (u-health), accessibility (u-accessibility), learning (u-learning), commerce (u-commerce) and games (u- During the last decade, the MobiLab has supported several games). This broad interest shows the relevance of this emergent projects dedicated to research and application of the ubiquitous technology and allows us to predict that the adoption of computing concepts. This article can be considered as a guide ubiquitous computing will generate a similar impact that the containing current references, which can be used to deepen adoption of Internet has generated in various application areas studies in this subject. In this sense, some research themes (for example, e-commerce and e-learning). This article considered strategic were addressed in more detail, namely, summarizes the evolution of ubiquitous computing and discusses Contexts Histories [11] (also called Trails [19]), Profile emerging uses in some application areas. Additionally, the text Management [7] and Context Prediction [20]. discusses issues currently addressed by researchers that are considered challenges and consequently research opportunities. The remainder of this article is organized as follows. First, For example, studies related to Contexts Histories (also called the progress of technologies related to ubiquitous computing is Trails) and their use to support Profile Management and Context discussed in Section II. The third section covers six application Prediction have been considered strategic. Finally, the article areas which have been researched at MobiLab/Unisinos. concludes by outlining trends in ubiquitous computing research. Section IV approaches the research opportunities. Finally, the last section concludes the article discussing trends in Keywords—ubiquitous computing; applications; profile ubiquitous computing. management; contexts histories; context prediction. II. PROGRESS OF RELATED TECHNOLOGIES I. INTRODUCTION The proliferation of smartphones and tablet PCs has Approximately 25 years ago, Mark Weiser [1] introduced fostered an ample adoption of the Mobile Computing the concept of Ubiquitous Computing predicting a world where [21], [22]. In addition, the use of devices to location computing devices would be present in objects, environments determination, such as the GPS3, has been stimulated by an and human beings themselves. These devices would interact increase of precision combined with a decreasing of prices. naturally with the users without being noticed. Ten years after, Location systems [23], [24] have been embedded into mobile Mahadev Satyanarayanan reinforced the concept through an computers, allowing the development of Location-based article that would become a classic [2]. More recent articles Services (LBSs) [25]–[27]. Location is one of several types of have discussed general aspects and trends of Ubiquitous information that can be used to support the concept of Context Computing [3], [4]. In addition, the improvement and [28]. integration of technologies, such as context-aware computing [5], adaptive systems [6], profile management [7] and The increasing use of these technologies combined with the recommender systems [8] have increasingly allowed the diffusion of sensors has enabled the availability of realization of the vision introduced by Weiser [1] and computational services in specific contexts (Context-aware Satyanarayanan [2]. Computing [5], [28], [29]. The idea consists in the perception of characteristics related to the users and their surroundings. This study was financed by CNPq/Brazil (National Council for Scientific and 1 Mobile Computing Lab (MobiLab). http://www.unisinos.br/lab/mobilab. Technological Development – http://www.cnpq.br – grant number 2 University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos. http://www.unisinos.br/global/en. 310443/2013-0). 3 Global Positioning System (GPS). http//www.gps.gov. These characteristics are normally referred to as Context [28], TABLE I. APPLICATION AREAS namely any information that can be used to describe the Material for further studies circumstances concerning an entity. Based on perceived Short name context, the application can modify its behavior. This process, used to Application Studies conducted in which software modifies itself according to sensed data, is indicate the areas at MobiLab Models application of named Adaptation [6]. Additionally, several other technologies /Unisinos can be highlighted as strategic for the development of modern ubiquitous computer systems, such as recommendation strategies [8], computing profile management [7], internet of things [30], mobile cloud It was proposed a computing [31], wireless sensor networks [32], among others. model called UDuctor [9] for UDuctor Health u-Health The progress and integration of these technologies have ubiquitous care of [9] fostered the implementation and adoption of ubiquitous noncommunicable systems [3], [4]. In this sense, the recent emergence of various diseases. application areas may be considered an indication that the ubiquitous computing is reaching a level of disruptive A model called Hefestos [17] was technology. The next section discusses applications and details proposed to of six of them. support u- Hefestos Accessibility u-Acessibility accessibility for [17] different types of III. APPLICATIONS people with The significant impact generated by the adoption of Internet disabilities. has shown how an emergent technology can transform the practices in different application areas. For example, the Four models were Distance Education (so called e-learning) [33] has proposed to different types of Local revolutionized the educational strategies, changing the learning [12] perspective from face-to-face approach to a remote learning. environments: Another example is the commerce, where the e-commerce has small-scale (Local GlobalEdu created a new paradigm to negotiate and stimulated the [12]), large-scale [13] emergence of several companies dedicated to explore this Learning u-Learning (GlobalEdu [13]), decentralized Global market opportunity. (Global [14]) and [14] The recent increase in the use of ubiquitous technologies competence management MultCComp enables the prediction that ubiquitous computing can repeat the oriented [11] phenomena generated by the widespread adoption of the (MultCComp Internet in recent decades. The consolidate communication [11]). systems (eg the Internet) will continue participating in the technology progress that will make real this forecast. However, Two models were the acceleration of the adoption of technologies discussed in proposed. Section II will increasingly contribute to the emergence of SWTrack [15] uses location SWTrack ubiquitous computing applications. systems to support [15] It does not geofencing and Considering this perspective, this section discusses Logistics exist tracking, and SafeTrack emergent application areas. The approach is not exhaustive and SafeTrack [16] [16] prioritizes the areas that have been researched in the expands SWTrack MobiLab/Unisinos, namely, health [9], accessibility [17], [15] with learning [12]–[14], logistics [15], [16], commerce [10] and automatic delivery games [18]. Table I summarizes the content of this section. The management. table columns were organized as follows: A model called • Applications areas: It indicates the name of application MUCS [10] fosters trades areas that were discussed in this section; MUCS Commerce u-Commerce based on user [10] • Short name: It presents the short name used to indicate interests and the application of ubiquitous computing in the area; context awareness. • Studies conducted: It is a summary of the research works conducted in MobiLab/Unisinos in each area; A model called Mobio Treat [18] • Models: It has the names of computational models supports a Mobio Threat Games u-Games multiplayer game proposed in MobiLab in each area. [18] based on mobile Next subsections discuss each area in the same order they and wireless are listed in the table. technologies. A.