The pervasive computer

• Ubiquitous computing


  The idea that computers are becoming pervasive - integrated into the world around us
• Ubiquitous computing was coined by Mark Weiser at Xerox PARC, where many significant computing developments took place
• Mark Weiser: 'Ubiquitous computing names the third wave in computing, just now beginning. First were mainframes, each shared by lots of people. Now we are in the personal computing era, person and machine staring uneasily at each other across the desktop. Next comes ubiquitous computing, or the age of calm technology, when technology recedes into the background of our lives.'
• Ubiquitous computing


  • Categorises technologies by our interactions with them, rather than the underlying technologies
  • We often interact with multiple computers without being aware of it
• Calm technology


  Technology that is not intrusive, allowing us to relax in its presence
• Allowing data exchange to take place

  May have consequences, not least for data security
• Cloud computing


  Computing services provided remotely over the internet, allowing access to computing resources as needed
• Cloud computing services


  • DropBox
  • OneDrive
• Cloud computing


  • Allows sharing and backing up of data
  • Reduces hardware, software and energy costs for businesses
  • Increases reliability
• There are ethical dimensions to the use of new technologies that need to be considered