Ubiquitous Computing And Its History

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Past couple of year’s computer has been an important piece of technology for people around the world and the use of computer has been increased dramatically. Accessing to the internet and worldwide web through computers will no longer be available and people will be connecting to a network. Also their tools will be connected to the network automatically, because the new technology method called ubiquitous computing has given a new era to the technology of modern computing and the people around the world. Ubiquitous computing was introduced first by mark wiser and now some countries around the world are using and experimenting about this technology. (West 2009)

2.0 Ubiquitous computing and its history

Embedding computer technology into objects that are around us, so we can interact with them in a new way is called Ubiquitous computing. Here the computer technology that was embedded in the objects is invisible in the physical environment. The environment of ubiquitous computing technology will help the users to interact and coordinate and cooperate with the technology easily. Normally this technology is networked, mobile and it is wireless where it will help the users to connect to the world easily. It is a technology that’s freely available everywhere and these objects that are embedded with computer technology will have the ability to sense the user’s presence and operate accordingly. By using this technology, the user will have the ability to access it anywhere they are and anytime they want and with any device in any network. The main aim of this technology is to make the users life easy and simple and safe. (Friedwald and Raabe 2011)

Mark wiser introduced ubiquitous computing for the first time on 1952 while working at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center as a chief technologist. Later He was called as the god father of ubiquitous computing. Because of his research, a new revolutionary path was opened for future computing technology. (West 2009)

3.0 Ubiquitous computing in Asia

The (Economist,2011) report states that Ubiquitous computing has been populated all over Asia and some countries in Asia are trying to adopt and some countries have all ready adopt ubiquitous computing technology half away. One of the famous countries in Asia that has adopted ubiquitous computing technology is Japan. Japan has designed technologies similar to ubiquitous computing and they are in a verge of adopting the technology. For example Japan has embedded ubiquitous technology is cars in order to impress the customers. They have created a service called SYNC and has embedded in cars. Because of new developed SYNC service, drivers can listen to music, make calls and do other things using voice commands. SYNC is a system based on Microsoft operating system. Also Toyota Company has discovered a new system called Entune and has embedded this system in to their cars. This system allows the drivers to connect their smart phones via Bluetooth or wireless links and other methods too. Also because of this system cars can talk to their drivers too. For example if there is a problem in the car, the car will tell the driver that there is a problem in this specific area of the car. The Japanese has managed to create a house where the house acts according to the house owners commands. For example if the owner of the house says to Switch on the TV, then the will be switched on automatically by the house.

According to Friedwald and Raabe (2011) countries like Singapore are hoping to create and ultra fast broad band infulstructure. With this method they are hoping to implement new technologies like telemedicine where doctors can remotely monitor his patient’s health at their homes. Also high definition conference video services so the people in Singapore can contact their relatives and friends. The Chinese have manufactured a smart phone called Canalys which has been embedded with Near Field Communication (NFC) chips. Also another name for this phone they cal is mobile wallet. This smart phone allows the customers to pay their bills and shopping and many more things. Another country that has been adopting ubiquitous technology is Korea. They have managed to create palm tops and high tech smart phone like Samsung galaxy.

4.0 Advantages and disadvantages of ubiquitous computing in Asia

4.1 Advantages

Invisibility

According to Lehman (2009) Objects of the environment will be embedded with computer technology that will be invisible in the physical environment. When it comes to Asia, with less visual clutter, the users will get more advantages controlling the things they need easily and reduce the criminal activities easily.

Socialization

Living with the ubiquitous computing technology will be more common in nature. Asian countries like Japan, china, Singapore… are really good at adopting technology fast and socialization with the technology easily. (Lehman 2009)

Decision making

The technology of ubiquitous computing will help the humans to make good decision and choices in their day to day life. Also this technology will proactive than passive. (Lehman 2010)

Information processing

Most of the popular Asian counties are really good at information processing. Because of the ubiquities computing, the technology will be having a nerve system so it can process information system in a whole new level. The technology will adopt a new technique called making sense of data method. This method is already been used in some countries like Japan in a small environment. (Lehman 2009)

Convergences

Countries like Japan and china are really good at digital technologies and handling errors of the technology than Europe countries. So the ubiquitous technology will be interconnected with digital technologies and because of this interconnectivity, countries like Japan will have the ability to handle the errors easily and the percentage of an error occurring will be very less because systems will be pulling data from shared digital locations. (Lehman 2009)

4.2 Disadvantages

Not entirely secure

The Ubiquitous computing is not entirely secure. The devices that are used in this technology do not give good security. The reason is the technology is combined in an ad hoc manner with in the technology network system. Most of the popular Asian countries like Japan are filled with hacker and malicious software’s. So the security threats to these countries are high. Also countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia will have a hard time building good security system because there are not advanced when it comes to computer technology (Louisa 2008).

High cost and takes time to build

Asia is really good at adopting ubiquitous technology, but when it comes to cost they go way down than the Europe countries. Not all the Asian countries are rich. Because of the high cost to bring this technology, Countries like Sri Lanka and all will have a hard time adopting the technology. Also it takes a high cost to maintain this technology in the future too. Another reason is it takes a lot time to build this technology (Louisa 2008).

5.0 Conclusion

The god father of ubiquities computing is mark visor and this technology is a new era for the computer technology. This technology method makes the life of humans easier .most of the Asian countries are adopting this technology fast and testing and experimenting it in many ways. Compared to Europe, the growth of ubiquities computing in Asia has dramatically increased. But some countries in Asia are still in a verge of adopting the technology. (West 2009)

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Reference

Lehman, M.L. (2009) Bringing Architecture to the next level [online]. [Accessed April 11th 2013]. Available at: <http://sensingarchitecture.com/1124/top-7-benefits-of-ubiquitous-computing-in-architecture/>

Friedwald, M and Raabe, O. (2011) Ubiquitous computing: An overview of technology impacts. Telemetric and Informatics, 37(2), pp.55-65.

The Economist (2011) Ubiquitous Computing: Up close, the economist [online]. London: The Economist Group. [Accessed on 8th January 2013].

Available at: <http://www.economist.com/node/21531116>.

West, M. (2009) Brief History of Ubiquitous computing. Introduction of Ubiquitous Computing, 2011 January 25th, pp.175-182.

Louisa, R. (2008) Learning with Ubiquitous computing. Educational Technology magazine, 48(2), pp.5-10