HCI Futures UQI120S2

What are the challenges? New hardware devices New software techniques New user expectations Better psychology More connectivity More bandwidth

L A Times article… Point. Click. Drag. Tired of operating personal computers like this? A lot of researchers are, and they're trying to change the way people interact with the ubiquitous beige boxes by creating virtual spaces that take into account the way people behave in the real world. Point. Click. Drag.

(contd…) Data Mountain Task Gallery

(…concl.) Scopeware Urp

But seriously!

UbiComp (Mark Weiser) Ubiquity: Interactions are not channeled through a single workstation. Access to computation is "everywhere." For example, in one's office there would be 10's of computers, displays, etc. These would range from watch sized Tabs, through notebook sized Pads, to whiteboard sized Boards. All would be networked. Wireless networks would be widely available to support mobile and remote access. Transparency: This technology is non intrusive and is as invisible and as integrated into the general ecology of the home or work place as, for example, a desk, chair, or book.

Summary of Weiser paper "Personal computer" is a misplaced idea: computers should not be owned by people, but rather should disappear into the background framework. The use of the computer should be unconscious - all attention should be given to the task at hand. Ubiquitous computers come in sizes suited to tasks: tabs, such as active badges, perform calendar, diary, personal identification and location, etc. tasks. Pads are "scrap computers" that are a merger of paper and laptop computers - they are the antithesis of windows. Boards serve as video screens, bulletin boards, whiteboards, flip charts, etc.

…contd. Architectural trends will assist ubiquitous computing: CPU speed, high-res display technology, auxiliary storage size increase, etc. can be predicted to continue their current growth trends and enable all of these classes of devices. Network, software and OS support will evolve: migratory, shared, and adaptive applications or OS's will need to be developed. Gigabit WANs, MAN wireless, and ad-hoc wireless LANs will become commonplace.

A Tab A Liveboard

Microsoft Net Meeting Software for Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)