Ubiquitous computing (or “ubicomp”) is a post-desktop model of human-computer interaction in which information processing has been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. As opposed to the desktop paradigm, in which a single user consciously engages a single device for a specialized purpose, someone “using” ubiquitous computing engages many computational devices and systems simultaneously, in the course of ordinary activities, and may not necessarily even be aware that they are doing so.1
Two quick links. Here is a great article posted this morning on GigaOM about Linux being the OS of the Ubiquitous computing revolution… the beginning of us interacting with technology everywhere. This is so true… we see it everywhere in all sorts of devices, and the OS we are using is becoming increasingly insignificant.
I would also argue that Google is becoming the medium for that ubiquitous computing. They are creating java programs that run on every type of mobile device, and all their servers run Linux as well.
The second article comes from another favorite: Webware. This article looks at one of the newest and greatest GPS devices and their integration with the web and Google Local search. If that is ubiquitous, I don’t know what is. I am not sure on this one, but I am guessing that most GPS programs run some sort of Linux program as well…
- Wikipedia – Ubiquitous computing[↩]