1 What Comes Next ? Tim Finin University of Maryland, Baltimore County February 17, 2004

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What ComesWhat ComesNextNext ??

Tim FininUniversity of Maryland,

Baltimore County

February 17, 2004

http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/v2.1/resource/html/id/16/

UMBCUMBCan Honors University in an Honors University in

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CaveatCaveat

““It's tough to make predictions, It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”especially about the future.”-- Yogi Berra -- Yogi Berra


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(0) Opening thoughts

Some current research at UMBCSome current research at UMBC

(1)(1) Pervasive computingPervasive computing

(2)(2) Wearable computingWearable computing

( ) Intelligent agents( ) Intelligent agents

( ) The semantic web( ) The semantic web(3) Final thoughts


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IT EvolutionIT Evolution

1970 1980 1990 2000

Personalcomputer

Internet

Web

ecommerce

Google

During the past 20 years, computers have engaged thegeneral population and made a difference in our lives.


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The possibilities for what comes next is very large. Advances in hardware, software and theory will take us in many directions. Research is exploration, evolution, often done by random search performed by 10,000 grad students typing on keyboards.

1970 1980 1990 2000

Personalcomputer

Internet

Web

ecommerce

Google ?


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1970 1980 1990 2000

Personalcomputer

Internet

Web

ecommerce

Google

Our ebiquity lab at UMBC is exploring some of theseBased on the idea of intelligent, pervasive computing.

?2010

Intelligentsoftwareagents

PervasiveComputing

WearableComputing

SemanticWeb

WebServices

NaturalLanguage

Understanding

AdaptiveSystems

AutonomicSystems

Trust


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Human Evolution?Human Evolution?


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Pervasive ComputingPervasive Computing aims to embed computing aims to embed computing into our lives, making it as natural as using other into our lives, making it as natural as using other ordinary objects like pen, paper, and cups and ordinary objects like pen, paper, and cups and available anytime and anywhere.available anytime and anywhere.


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(1)(1) Pervasive Pervasive ComputingComputing

“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it ” – Mark Weiser

Think: writing, central heating, electric lighting, …

Not: taking your laptop to the beach, or immersing yourself into a virtual reality


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Practical Pervasive technology: the Practical Pervasive technology: the ambient orbambient orb

The orb is connected by a pager to a network intrusion detection system monitoring the status of the UMBC network. The number and severity of security incidents are visualized by its changing color and frequency of pulsing.


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Communication is a key enablerCommunication is a key enabler

Cool toys…

Too bad they can’t talk to each other…


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We have many standardsWe have many standards

Sync. Download. Done.

Configuration? Too much

work…


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The devices must be more The devices must be more socialsocial

Thank God! Everything is done for me!


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Ongoing research issuesOngoing research issues Languages for devices to exchange and share Languages for devices to exchange and share

information using common vocabulariesinformation using common vocabularies User configurable policies for trust and privacyUser configurable policies for trust and privacy Context aware systemsContext aware systems that can anticipate the that can anticipate the

needs of users and act in advance by needs of users and act in advance by “understanding” their situation“understanding” their situation

Intelligent middleware and agents toIntelligent middleware and agents to Sense, acquire and share context knowledgeSense, acquire and share context knowledge Reason about and maintain consistent context Reason about and maintain consistent context

knowledgeknowledge Enforce policies for security, trust, safety & privacyEnforce policies for security, trust, safety & privacy


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Our intelligent roomOur intelligent room

B

Services

RoomBooker

SOAP/OWL

P

Personal Agent(FIPA/JADE)

FIPA-ACL/OWL

(Semantic Web)

Mocha PC8”x6”x2”


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A Typical CoBrA Use CaseA Typical CoBrA Use Case

Alice enters a conference room

The broker negotiatesprivacy policy with Alice

The broker detects Alice’s presence

B

Policy says, “can share with any agents in the room”

AB

The broker buildsthe context model

Web

The broker knows Alice’s role and

intention

+

Alice in Wonderland*Alice in Wonderland*

* Our intelligent meeting room


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A Typical CoBrA Use CaseA Typical CoBrA Use Case

The projector agent wants to help Alice

The broker informsthe subscribed agents

B A

The projector agentasks slide show info.

B

The broker acquires the slide show info.

BWeb

The broker informs the

projector agent

B

The projector agent sets up the slides

Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland


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(2)(2) Wearable Wearable computingcomputing

A new form of human-computer interaction A new form of human-computer interaction with small body-worn computing components with small body-worn computing components Always on, always ready, always accessibleAlways on, always ready, always accessible Supporting hands busy and eyes busy interactionsSupporting hands busy and eyes busy interactions

Not hand held devices, laptop computers and Not hand held devices, laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs).personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Will lead to a new form of synergy between Will lead to a new form of synergy between human and computer, characterized by long-human and computer, characterized by long-term adaptation through constancy of user-term adaptation through constancy of user-interface. interface.


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Wearable computer, Wearable computer, notnot


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Wearable computing, Wearable computing, maybemaybe


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Wearable computing, todayWearable computing, today


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(3)(3) Final Thoughts Final Thoughtstwo enabling technologiestwo enabling technologies

The WebThe Web continues to evolve continues to evolve Web services and the semantic web are Web services and the semantic web are

enabling more automation and agentsenabling more automation and agents The web is not just for people anymoreThe web is not just for people anymore Its a universal acid, consuming all in its Its a universal acid, consuming all in its

pathpath Wireless communicationWireless communication makes it makes it easy and cheap for things to senseeasy and cheap for things to senseand interoperateand interoperate


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The Evolution of Useful The Evolution of Useful ThingsThings

The Evolution of Useful The Evolution of Useful ThingsThings, Henry Petroski, 1994., Henry Petroski, 1994.

Before 1900, papers were Before 1900, papers were held together with straight held together with straight pens!pens!

The development of “spring The development of “spring steel” allowed the invention steel” allowed the invention of the paper clip in 1899.of the paper clip in 1899.

It took about It took about 25 years (!)25 years (!) for for the evolution of the standard the evolution of the standard “gem paperclip” considered “gem paperclip” considered to be optimal for general to be optimal for general use.use.

Things take time, but the Things take time, but the incremental results pay the incremental results pay the way.way.


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ClimbingClimbingMountMountImprobablImprobablee

“The sheer height of the peak doesn't matter, so long as you don't try to scale it in a single bound. Locate the mildly sloping path and, if you have unlimited time, the ascent is only as formidable as the next step.”

-- Richard Dawkins, Climbing MountImprobable, Penguin Books, 1996.


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http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/

Documents

1 What Comes Next ? Tim Finin University of Maryland, Baltimore County February 17, 2004