Author(s):

Holmquist, Lars Erik; Mattern, Friedmann; Schiele, Bernt; Alahuhta, Petteri; Beigl, Michael; Gerrersen, Hans-W.

Title:

Smart-Its Friends: A Technique for Users to Easily Establish Connections between Smart Artefacts

Publication:

Ubicomp 2001: Ubiquitous Computing International Conference

Keywords:

context aware computing; control; location aware computing; user interface

Paper Summary:

In a ubiquitous computing environment, it is presumed that applications and systems will be interconnected. Concerned with the quality not the quantity of these connections, this article proposes a method that allows users to retain control over the interconnections of system and artifacts. The authors propose context proximity for selective artifact communication and suggest two methods of communication: implicit connection and explicit connection. Implicit connection, based on context proximity, enables artifacts to automatically connect to each other if they are within a specified range, while explicit connection enables users to control the connections by using a series of movements and gestures to connect devices. The authors describe Smart-It devices which users can explicitly connect by moving two Smart-It devices in a similar fashion. Based on these gestures, the Smart-It devices become "friends" and connect. The authors believe that one of the challenges of ubiquitous computing is customizing user interfaces and therefore propose other interaction mediums such as gesture and sound to allow users to control systems.

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