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

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 2 Caveat “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” -- Yogi Berra

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 3 (0) Opening thoughts Some current research at UMBC (1) Pervasive computing (2) Wearable computing ( ) Intelligent agents ( ) The semantic web (3) Final thoughts

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 4 IT Evolution Personal computer Internet Web ecommerce Google During the past 20 years, computers have engaged the general population and made a difference in our lives.

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 5 IT Evolution 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 Personal computer Internet Web ecommerce Google ?

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 6 IT Evolution Personal computer Internet Web ecommerce Google Our ebiquity lab at UMBC is exploring some of these Based on the idea of intelligent, pervasive computing. ? 2010 Intelligent software agents Pervasive Computing Wearable Computing Semantic Web Services Natural Language Understanding Adaptive Systems Autonomic Systems Trust

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 7 Human Evolution?

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 8 Human Evolution?

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 9 Human Evolution? Pervasive Computing aims to embed computing into our lives, making it as natural as using other ordinary objects like pen, paper, and cups and available anytime and anywhere.

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 10 (1) Pervasive Computing “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

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 11 Practical Pervasive technology: the ambient 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.

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 12 Communication is a key enabler Cool toys… Too bad they can’t talk to each other…

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 13 We have many standards Sync. Download. Done. Configuration? Too much work…

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 14 The devices must be more social Thank God! Everything is done for me!

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 15 Ongoing research issues Languages for devices to exchange and share information using common vocabularies Languages for devices to exchange and share information using common vocabularies User configurable policies for trust and privacy User configurable policies for trust and privacy Context aware systems that can anticipate the needs of users and act in advance by “understanding” their situation Context aware systems that can anticipate the needs of users and act in advance by “understanding” their situation Intelligent middleware and agents to Intelligent middleware and agents to Sense, acquire and share context knowledge Sense, acquire and share context knowledge Reason about and maintain consistent context knowledge Reason about and maintain consistent context knowledge Enforce policies for security, trust, safety & privacy Enforce policies for security, trust, safety & privacy

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 16 A Bird’s Eye View of CoBrA

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 17 Our intelligent room B Services Room Booker SOAP/OWL P Personal Agent (FIPA/JADE) FIPA-ACL/OWL (Semantic Web) Mocha PC 8”x6”x2”

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 18 A Typical CoBrA Use Case The broker negotiates privacy policy with Alice The broker detects Alice’s presence B    Policy says, “can share with any agents in the room” A B The broker builds the context model Web The broker knows Alice’s role and intention + Alice in Wonderland* * Our intelligent meeting room

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 19 A Typical CoBrA Use Case The projector agent wants to help Alice The broker informs the subscribed agents B A The projector agent asks slide show info. B The broker acquires the slide show info. B Web The broker informs the projector agent B The projector agent sets up the slides Alice in Wonderland

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 20 (2) Wearable computing A new form of human-computer interaction with small body-worn computing components A new form of human-computer interaction with small body-worn computing components Always on, always ready, always accessible Always on, always ready, always accessible Supporting hands busy and eyes busy interactions Supporting hands busy and eyes busy interactions Not hand held devices, laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Not hand held devices, laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Will lead to a new form of synergy between human and computer, characterized by long- term adaptation through constancy of user- interface. Will lead to a new form of synergy between human and computer, characterized by long- term adaptation through constancy of user- interface.

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 21 Wearable computer, not

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 22 Wearable computing, maybe

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 23 Wearable computing, today

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 24 (3) Final Thoughts two enabling technologies The Web continues to evolve The Web continues to evolve Web services and the semantic web are enabling more automation and agents Web services and the semantic web are enabling more automation and agents The web is not just for people anymore The web is not just for people anymore Its a universal acid, consuming all in its path Its a universal acid, consuming all in its path Wireless communication makes it easy and cheap for things to sense and interoperate Wireless communication makes it easy and cheap for things to sense and interoperate

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 25 The Evolution of Useful Things The Evolution of Useful Things, Henry Petroski, The Evolution of Useful Things, Henry Petroski, Before 1900, papers were held together with straight pens! Before 1900, papers were held together with straight pens! The development of “spring steel” allowed the invention of the paper clip in The development of “spring steel” allowed the invention of the paper clip in It took about 25 years (!) for the evolution of the standard “gem paperclip” considered to be optimal for general use. It took about 25 years (!) for the evolution of the standard “gem paperclip” considered to be optimal for general use. Things take time, but the incremental results pay the way. Things take time, but the incremental results pay the way.

UMBC an Honors University in Maryland 26 Climbing Mount Improbable “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 Mount Improbable, Penguin Books, 1996.

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