Advances in Ambient Intelligence

Book excerpt: Ambient Intelligence lies at the confluence of several trends: the continued decrease in cost and size of computing technology; the increasing availability of networking and communication infrastructure; the growing public familiarity/comfort with computing artifacts; and practical advances in artificial intelligence. These developments make it possible to contemplate the ubiquitous deployment of intelligent systems - prototypically in smart homes, but more broadly in public spaces, private automobiles and on individual appliances and hand-held devices - in applications ranging from entertainment through eldercare, to safety critical device control. Ambient Intelligence is a young field. As a result, it has been natural to wonder what the technology can do to improve the way we live. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly important to ask: "What do we want?" since the intent is to embed technology in new and pervasive ways. The contributions in this volume provide a window into the visions and trends currently dominating the area of Ambient Intelligence. This publication is divided into three sections. The first describes visions for the future of Ambient Intelligence, the second addresses core technology of the field and the third provides an analysis of elements of the area which will demand special consideration during the future development of the area.