Ubiquitous computing aims to support user experience and flow within a contextual environment, rather than demanding attention through an interface (UI). When entities in our environment can communicate and share data, the aggregate is smarter than individual components. Ubiquitous computing involves mechanisms to identify context and impact the context to meet objectives, through input to sense context and output to actuate changes. Partial ubiquity through some sensing, computing and actuating is often better than no ubiquity, and the goal is good user experience rather than full invisibility of technology.

1. UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING: UX
WHEN THERE IS NO UI
Marc Resnick, Ph.D.
Human Factors and Information Design
Bentley University
mresnick@bentley.edu
humanfactors.blogspot.com
@PerformSol

2. Strategic Ubiquity
 Ubiquitious computing is not about making all of
the technology invisible. Invisible is often not a
good UX.
 Ubiquitous computing is transparent
◦ it retreats into the background and supports the experience
of flow with the contextual environment.
◦ it does not insert itself between the user and the
environment and demand attention.

3. The Internet of Things
 When entities in our environment can communicate
with each other and share their individual data, the
aggregate is smarter than the components.
Wisdom
Knowledge
Information
Data

4. The Internet of Things
3D-camera
views
body
sensors
climate
sensors
activity
monitors
Local IOT
calendar synch
local
IOT
social
recommendatio
ns
cloud
models
Global IOT

5. Global IoT – Glow Caps

6. Ubiquitous Computing
Input
• The mechanisms through which the system identifies
the context, which is used to determine what actions to
take (if any).
Output
• The mechanisms through which the system impacts
the context in the way that meets the objectives of the
system and/or user.
Setup
• Allows the system to establish objectives, preferences,
and other KPIs that might differ among contexts.
note – not all of these need to be individually ubiquitous –
ubiquity is NOT the objective, good user experience IS.

7. Ubiquitous User Experience
Compute ActuateSense

8. Partial ubiquity is often better
than none

9. Partial ubiquity is often better
than none
Shamelessly borrowed from nngroup newsletter

10. Smart Homes

11. Smart Cars

12. The Quantified Self

13. Social Gaming

14. UX Concerns
Conflict Security

15. Thank You!!