Taxonomy of Ubiquitous Computing Applications and Challenges

Abstract

Ubiquitous computing is the emerging technology in computer science. It is a method of enhancing computer usage by making many small computer systems available throughout the environment i-e physical environment. The main concept is to implement smart objects and computer system in real world being disappearing. Disappearance of computer system implies to functionality of these computer must move to the surroundings regardless of location. Embedded technology became more mature and advance. Physical computer system and embedded smart objects fixed together to achieve specific goal. In ubiquitous computing environment billions of smart objects can be implemented for the user support. One can easily connect and configure access setting without any restriction. Although this may cause security and reliability issue but it works. In this regard there are some critical issues also in ubiquitous computing such as security, reliability, social and ethical issue are important to monitor. In this paper ubiquitous computing is presented and its application, challenges and elements of ubiquitous computing are discussed in detail. Finally in last concluded remarks are given about whole discussion.

Full text

Taxonomy of Ubiquitous Computing
Applications and Challenges
Azeem Ayaz Mirani
Department of CSE
Quaid – e – Awam University
Nawab Shah, Sindh, Paksitan
Email: azeemmir2016@gmail.com
Muhammad Suleman Memon
Department of CSE
Quaid – e – Awam University
Nawab Shah, sindh, Paksitan
Email: enrsuleman05cs32@gmail.com
Mairaj Nabi Bhati
Department of IT
Quaid – e – Awam University
Nawab Shah, Sindh, Paksitan
Email: mairaj_bhatti@yahoo.com
Mudasar Ahmed Soomro
Department of IT
Quaid – e – Awam University
Nawab Shah, sindh, Paksitan
Email: mudasar1717@gmail.com
Mushtaque Ahemd Rahu
Department of Electronic Engineering
Quaid – e – Awam University
Nawab Shah, Sindh, Paksitan
Email: rahumushtaque@gmail.com
Abstract - Ubiquitous computing is the emerging
technology in computer science. It is a method of
enhancing computer usage by making many small
computer systems available throughout the environment
i-e physical environment. The main concept is to
implement smart objects and computer system in real
world being disappearing. Disappearance of computer
system implies to functionality of these computer must
move to the surroundings regardless of location.
Embedded technology became more mature and
advance. Physical computer system and embedded smart
objects fixed together to achieve specific goal. In
ubiquitous computing environment billions of smart
objects can be implemented for the user support. One can
easily connect and configure access setting without any
restriction. Although this may cause security and
reliability issue but it works. In this regard there are
some critical issues also in ubiquitous computing such as
security, reliability, social and ethical issue are important
to monitor. In this paper ubiquitous computing is
presented and its application, challenges and elements of
ubiquitous computing are discussed in detail. Finally in
last concluded remarks are given about whole discussion.
Keyword: Ubiquitous computing, WAUN, smart
objects, wireless and RFID
I. INTRODUCTION:
Ubiquitous computing is the emerging technologies
in computer science and technology. Ubiquitous
computing is method of enhancing computer based
smart environment by the implementation of many
small computer systems throughout the nt i-e
physical environment. The main concept is to make
smart computerized environment with the
integration computer system and making them
disappear from the environment. Disappearance of
computer implies that functionality of computer
system must move to the surroundings. Ubiquitous
computing made life easier and made easy efforts
as soon as technology is grown. In these days
communication becomes ubiquitous more or less
[2] [7]. The concept of Ubiquitous Communication
is to provide the facility of smart environment. In
this sense ubiquitous computing made easy to
intervention of human to machine relation. In
ubiquitous computing there can be hundreds of
devices with efficient multimedia and power saving
characteristics in order to work collectively. In
ubiquitous computing environment all
heterogeneous devices are actually distributed over
large or small ad hoc or peer to peer designed
model. In this regard devices in communication
area may be mobile or fixed but these devices need
to connect with the communication system of
ubiquitous computing [6]. In Ubiquitous computing
environment cellular system and access point need
a base station in wireless local area network
(WLAN). These features of Ubiquitous computing
gives ease of usage anywhere and any place.
Regardless of geographical location one (student,
teacher or any citizen) can easily communicate and
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share resources such as book, shelf, and food can
be implemented. Ad hoc network don’t need
infrastructure such as APs and BS. Ad hoc network
supports centralized system and auto- configured
network node system [4]. Ubiquitous computing
support users regardless of location by using broad
band and wireless access point. Some additional
objects such as sensors and actuators are embedded
with RFID technology within network.
A messy infrastructure needed to implement
ubiquitous computing network. In other words
messiness that we experience in laboratory
ubiquitous computing is not a prototype property
technologies of the bleeding edge, or realistic itself.
Massiveness is property of infrastructure is
inherently messy; rough in their availability and
operation.
The rest of the paper is organized as in section II
defines the applications of the ubiquitous
computing. In section III elements of the
ubiquitous computing are discussed and in section
IV belongings of ubiquitous computing and
technology related issues are discussed. In last
challenges of ubiquitous computing are discussed.
In last conclusion remarks is given.
II. APPLICATIONS OF UBIQUITOUS
COMPUTING:
Ubiquitous computing is self-organized and
centralized computer network environment. It
provides easy way of communication among the
devices regardless of place and environment [4]. It
comprises of different small objects which are
smart to perform different tasks as per user
requirement. In health and medical science
ubiquitous network may play important role when a
patient needs to get direct access of doctor.
Ubiquity performs very important role in case of
emergency. Doctor can recommend direct medicine
without moving from his office. Each and every
patient can be monitored within ubiquitous
computing environment.
In education and research it is very important to
work within network. Ubiquitous computing is
easy to access resource of the educational activities
and material which needed for the study and
research. In addition online lesson preparation and
presentation material can be shared without any
restriction. In environmental monitoring ubiquitous
commuting can work more efficient to measure the
different parameters. Parameters such as
temperature, pressure, humidity and other
considerable parameters can be monitored.
Different smart objects can be implemented for the
environmental monitoring. Other important
application includes traffic monitoring, shopping
plaza items detections etc.
III. ELEMENTS OF UBIQUITOUS
COMPUTING:
Ubiquitous computing element can be comprised
on three levels. In first level devices are considered
which are used to communicate within network.
The second important element is to consider the
communication link needs to establish whenever
user wants to connect with the network [7]. The
third aspect of the element is technology which is
used for the interface of the ubiquitous commuting
network infrastructure and device configuration.
All technological devise having heterogynous
nature can work together within ubiquitous
environment. Three elements are given below in
table:
TABLE: 1 ELEMENTS OF UBIQUITOUS
COMPUTING
Elements
Specification
Devices Storage devices
Input and output devices
Display devices
Communication devices
Sensors
Actuators
Communication
link
Physical link
Fixed wired link
Fixed wireless link
Mobile Wireless link
Hybrid Multi- links
Logical virtual link
Interface
Technology
Navigational technologies
On-screen touch panel technologies
Video interfacing technologies
Voice interfacing technologies
Hand writing based interface
technologies
Hybrid interfacing technologies
A. Devices:
Devices includes in the network environment are
storage devices such memory i-e primary and
secondary memory. Display devices include LCDs
and LEDs which can be used to monitor and
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configure the system devices with visual effects.
Sensor devices are includes in order monitoring the
environmental parameters such as temperature,
humidity, human movement, audio sound
recognition and so many other types of sensors can
be implemented. In order to connect network
devices communication link is necessary to
establish and it is important aspect of every
network. Some of the devices are discussed in
detail below:
B. Storage devices:
Storage devices are memory devices which are
used to store the data of the computer. The data of
the events which occurred in the ubiquitous
computing environment are saved for the future
usage. Storage devices include primary and
secondary devices i-e RAM and Hard disk.
C. Input and output devices:
In ubiquitous computing environment different no:
of devices can be used to input and output
operations such as keyboard, mouse, mice and
other devices which needed.
D. Display devices:
Display devices such LCD and LED are
implemented in ubiquitous environment in order to
configure the system and can operate the system by
the GUI interface.
E. Communication devices:
There are different communication devices can be
implemented in the ubiquitous computing
environment for the purpose of communication.
For the purpose of internet access, internetwork
and internetwork different devices can be sued for
the purpose of communication such as Wi-Fi
modem, routers and switches etc.
F. Sensors:
Sensor is small device which are used to sense the
physical parameters such as temperature, humidity,
pressure etc. there are different types of sensors
available in market in these days to measure the
different parameters of the physical environment.
II. Communication links:
Communication is offered by the combined
operation of the infrastructure. For the purpose of
communication different types of the network can
be implemented in the ubiquitous environment.
There are different types of networks i-e
infrastructure based and infrastructure less. In
infrastructure based no: of wires and other physical
devices are needed to connect for the
communication while in infrastructure less there is
no need of the physical links and other devices.
III. Interface Technology:
Interface technology refers to the communication
devices boundary having different system
configurations and capabilities for the purpose of
communication with each other. Boundaries of
ubiquitous computing needs efficient interface for
the communication. So devices which supports
efficient interface should be maintained and fixed.
Few of interface technologies are discussed below:
A. Software interface:
In interface technology communication of two
different devices can achieve with the help of
software. Software having different versions which
should match within boundaries of the system
communication. For the interface different types of
operating system and other important packages are
used for the interface of the communication
devices.
B. Cables:
In Ubiquitous computing communication link can
be established with different physical link
interfaces. For the communication purpose a well
establish physical connection is needed. This
physical connection can be achieved by the no: of
wires and cables within communication
boundaries. All devices need to connect themselves
within the communication area either physically or
logically.
C. Video and Audio interface technology:
Ubiquitous computing environment supports the
video and audio applications. Digital video
interface (DVI) is digital video interface
technology which was developed by the digital
display working group (DDWG). In this
technology the video source is used to connect with
the digital interface i-e video display controller to
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monitor. This interface was developed to display
the uncompressed video and having the capability
to configure with different modes DVI – A (Analog
only), DVI - D (Digital Only) or DVI – I (digital
and analog both).
IV. BELONGINGS OF UBIQUITOUS
COMPUTING (UBICOM) SYSTEMS:
M.Weiser proposed three basic properties of
ubiquitous computing [7] which represents
distributed computing, context-awareness and
invisibility. Distributed computing implies to
sharing of resources with confidentiality and
accuracy. Distributions of system mean all the
system components networked and transparently
accessible to the environment. The networked
devices can easily be communicated with human as
well network devices within network. The hidden
property means computer can work with human in
more hidden. Third property which is context–
awareness means system should be able to aware
from the user and physical context interaction.
These properties based on different application
requirement and it may apply on specific
application not for all environments. Ubiquitous
computing main five properties are given in the
following diagram.
Figure 1.
Properties of ubiquitous Computing
A. Intelligent:
Ubiquitous computing environment is very smart
and intelligent which can record, analyses and save
the data without human interaction. In this
environment all things are performed rapidly
automatically. This may record event visually and
audio related activities. Due eternity of devices
different types of sensing and RFID technology
related activities can be performed with the scope
of applications.
B. Distributed Environment:
Ubiquitous computing provides the ease of
distributed environment. Due to ubiquitous nature
all devices has to share resources. One can easily
switch from one domain to another within
ubiquitous environment.
C. Integration of cybersecurity and
physical Systems:
Ubiquitous competing have the capabilities to
make system more security physically and also
from the cybersecurity perspective. Ubiquitous
computing environmental devices can be protected
from the unauthorized access with certain security
access policies. Each and every devices consist on
the different heterogeneous structure within the
environment so that they provide different cyber
security mechanism. Due to hidden infrastructure
of the computer systems it is also physically
protected from the environmental variables which
may effect on the devices within the network.
D. Context – aware:
Ubiquitous computing network provides very smart
context - aware feature. This property of ubiquitous
computing provides the user to become aware all
the aspects of the environment. Each and every
device is so connected with network and having
full information of the all network related context
with respect to all new devices connectivity.
V.UBIQUITOUS NETWORK RELATED
FIELDS:
Ubiquitous network provides user oriented services
which supports all the hidden activities of the
background which a user needs for communication.
Ubiquitous computing is the area of future
computing for user oriented applications [3]. This
helps to provide user to work within computerized
environment with the help of ubiquitous
computing. Different application needs different
network requirement. This network provides free
access of resources any time anywhere. Ubiquitous
network also provide the facility of different
devices to be connected with the network. Any
kind of device can be connected with the help of
broad band, mobile access and RFID can easily
access the network.
A. Small and smart objects:
intelligent
Context -
aware
ICS
Distributed
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In ubiquitous computing small objects are useds to
connect with network, small computer can be
embedded in small objects such as shoes, watches,
clothes etc are wearable items. In this regard in
some objects such as refrigerator, vehicles, tables
and desks computer system can be embedded.
Small chips and computer are interconnected with
in network. These small computers need direct
connectivity with the internet [7]. The concept of
ubiquitous computing is same as the concept of
internet in which computers are connected
regardless of distance and system configuration.
The processing power and memory effectiveness
makes small objects more reliable and powerful to
work. These small sensors and actuators become
more powerful with resource of processing power
and memory effectiveness. An efficient human-
computer interaction needed to be communicating
with these smart objects in ubiquitous computing.
B. Wireless Technology:
Wireless technology plays vital role in ubiquitous
computing. Wireless technology grew up from
IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN, WiMAX (World
Wide interpretability microwave access) to IEEE
802.16 wireless metropolitan area network
(WMAN) and blue tooth, ultra wide band (UWB),
ZigBee to IEEE 802.15 personal area network
(WPAN) [8]. These technologies supports wireless
LAN to work faster and transfer data more
efficiently to the ubiquitous computing network
devices. WLAN operates faster for the short
distance at the speed of 2.4GHz and cellular system
operates more rapidly at the 900MHz for low date
rates networks. These specifications are given on
the basis of efficient ubiquitous wireless
technologies.
C. RFID supported technology:
For the identification of the remote object in
ubiquitous environment is the major problem. In
this regard ubiquitous computing supports RFID
(Radio frequency identification devices)
technology which provides most effective way of
object identification regardless of location. A
bunch of small and smart devices comprises of low
powered batteries, having fixed antenna and micro
chipped [7][5]. These devices have unique
identification id or serial number within ubiquitous
network environment. Each device has
programmable features which supports
programming information. RF (radio frequency)
signal is the chief source of information sharing
with neighboring devices. With use of RFID
identification of network devices can easily be
implemented.
D. Wide Area ubiquitous network (WAUN):
WAUN communication base on the small amount
of data in kbs while over long distance (upto Km).
The concern application could be environment
monitoring, gas leakage, vehicle and face detection
and several others [9]. In WAUN there could be
several devices, services and network designed
within network which works copiously for the user
service. Wireless technology which is advance such
as adaptive modeling and coding (AMC), diversity
antennas and large scale monolithic microwave IC
(MMIC) by using CMOS devices. WAUN can
work on the large distance and high bit rate by
implementing efficient wireless link and system
requirement.
VI. CHALLENGES OF UBIQUITOUS
COMPUTING:
Although ubiquitous computing is most emerging
technology but having very fast effect on user
computer environment. This idea of ubiquitous
computing is to make computer unseen to user
environment and provide user centralized access of
network. In this network so many smart objects are
embedded with the integration of sensors and
actuators [3][5]. These all components of
ubiquitous computing performed uniformly for the
user oriented services. To meet the desired output
performance of the ubiquitous computing has some
challenges’ to face. Following challenges illustrates
the ubiquitous computing research community to
work out.
A. Unexpected Smart environment:
In ubiquitous computing an unexpected
environment needed to establish anywhere and
everywhere. This leads more complexity for the
management of the ubiquitous computing network.
Cluster of technology makes different
configuration to be maintained and manage.
Different objects having different working
capability, configuration and network requirement.
Heterogeneity generates more complexity for the
establishment and management of the ubiquitous
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environment. Maintaining the ubiquitous
environment is more challenging research issue.
B. Inappropriate interoperability:
It is compulsory in the world of technology to
develop and manufacture the products which
represents their predefined rules and working
algorithms for the software implementation. So
ubiquitous computing becomes more complex for
the communication of the different devices
vendors. The portability of the devices could
comply with each other but there would be a
predefined ruled which each company has to
follow. It leads little bit communication
establishment essence but there would be more
things to be focus. So interoperability is also big
challenge in ubiquitous computing.
C. Absence of system administrator:
Ubiquitous computing environment is centralized
and self-configured so, it doesn’t need
administrator to control and configure the security
policies for the users. Most of the users are not well
known about the system performance, security and
other important operation which needs to be
managed. It may cause the security threat and other
technical problems. The complex network needs
some extra expertise to manage the ubiquitous
network.
D. Social implications of technology
awareness:
Ubiquitous computing has very strong social
impact on society. Working hours of the social
contact may impact on the network performance.
Socially it needs to be managed that if a user needs
connection what and how it should be established?
Continuously access of the data and network may
leads to the network performance low if network is
not maintained efficiently. Is there any law and
social values for the society to follow the ethics
network access? It is important to consider society
as main challenging area of research.
E. Reliability of the ubiquitous network:
As compared to last decade computer devices
became more smart and efficient to measure the
parameters of the network. After few years it would
be more efficient enough to work and configure the
devices for the user access. Billions of the devices
will communicate within network and issue of
reliability may generate for the communication
devices and users. Each device should be managed
well managed and well configured for becoming
the active part of the network. So reliability is big
challenge also for the ubiquitous environment.
VII. CONCLUSION:
On the whole ubiquitous computing is very
attractive and efficient network environment. In
this ubiquitous network Hundreds of smart objects
can be embedded to work for the specific goal.
These smart objects can work together and achieve
the some systematical required output. Ubiquitous
computing based on emerging technology and
having greater effect on the different fields of life.
The hidden system infrastructure work for the
visible users to deal and communicate according to
as per need. It self-configured and self-organized
network and can be implemented anywhere and
anyplace. Lot of research can be introduced for the
betterment of the computer research society.
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