Ubiquitous Computing: Surfing the Trend in a Balanced Act

Michel Avital Case Western Reserve University, USA

Matt Germonprez Case Western Reserve University, USA

Abstract
Ubiquitous computing often presented as a third wave of computing, a departure from its predecessors—mainframe and personal computing. We examine this claim and argue that ubiquitous computing is not a departure from traditional computing but rather an evolutionary and natural step, which is in-sync with the global trends influencing the development of information technologies. Using two interrelated analytical prisms—megatrends and equilibriums, this paper provides a new point-of-entry for understanding ubiquitous computing from a perspective that accounts for human nature and the technology they use. We demonstrate that, together, megatrends and equilibriums provide a foundation for understanding information systems, and in particular ubiquitous computing systems. As an illustration, we provide systems architects and mangers with a set of four megatrends and another set of four equilibriums, which must be understood to better develop, implement, and manage ubiquitous computing environments.

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Reference:	Avital. M., Germonperz, M. (2003). "Ubiquitous Computing: Surfing the Trend in a Balanced Act," Case Western Reserve University, USA . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 3(19). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/3-19
Keywords:	Ubiquitous Computing, Information Systems Evolution, Computing Trends
Item Type:	Article - Volume 3 Article 19 (2003)
Language:	English
Email:	Michel Avital (avital@uva.nl) Matt Germonprez (germonr@uwec.edu)

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