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Title
Abstract
Introduction
The Home of the Future -A Vision
Discussion
The Dcomp Ontology -An Overview
Participants
Procedures
Results
Questionnaire Rating
Concluding Discussion
References
All Topics
Computer Science
Human-Computer Interaction

End-user Customisation of Intelligent Environments

Profile image of Graham S ClarkeGraham S ClarkeProfile image of Victor CallaghanVictor Callaghan
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-93808-0_14
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Abstract

One of the striking aspects of world-wide-web is how it has empowered ordinary non-technical people to participate in a digital revolution by transforming the way services such as shopping, education and entertainment are offered and consumed. The proliferation of networked appliances, sensors and actuators, such as those found in digital homes heralds a similar ‘sea change’ in the capabilities of ordinary people to customise and utilise the electronic spaces they inhabit. By coordinating the actions of networked devices or services, it is possible for the environment to behave in a holistic and reactive manner to satisfy the occupants needs; creating an intelligent environment. Further, by deconstructing traditional home appliances into sets of more elemental network accessible services, it is possible to reconstruct either the original appliance or to create new user defined appliances by combining basic network services in novel ways; creating a so called virtual appliance. This principle can be extended to decompose and recompose software applications allowing users to create their own bespoke applications. Collectively, such user created entities are referred to as Meta – appliances or –applications, more generally abbreviated to MAps. Deconstruction and user customized MAps raise exciting possibilities for occupants of future intelligent environments, and sets significant research challenges [Chin 09]. For example, how can MAps be constructed and managed by ordinary non-expert home occupants? At one extreme it is possible to use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and equipment, such as autonomous intelligent agents. These monitor an occupants habitual behaviour, modelling their behaviours, and creating rule-based profiles (self programming) so they can preemptively set the environment to what they anticipate the user would like [Augusto 06]. However, some people have privacy concerns about what is being recorded, when it is being recorded and to whom (or what) any information is communicated. These concerns are particularly acute with autonomous agents, in which people have little direct control. Such matters are especially sensitive when the technology is used in the private space of someone’s home. Frequently, endusers are given very little choice in setting-up digital home technology and are obliged to accept whatever is offered [Callaghan et-al 08]. Apart from the issues of privacy and trust, we argue that creativity is an essential and distinctive human quality, and that many people would enjoy the process of creating their own novel networked appliances and personalising their ’electronic spaces’, providing they can be shielded from unnecessary technical complexity. This has parallels to the common practice of people decorating their own homes with paintings, walls hangings, pictures, colour schemes and furniture. This rationale has led many researchers to investigate what is termed ‘end-user programming’, a methodology aimed at allowing non-technical people to personalise their own digital spaces with network enabled embedded-computer based devices. Historically, programming has only been accessible to well-qualified professionals, such as computer scientists, or the outcome of self-programming (learning) using autonomous intelligent agents. The challenge for achieving an end-user programming vision is to devise programming methodologies that are usable by non-technical people. In this chapter we begin by reviewing current research into end-user programming systems, especially those for the home. We describe approaches that range from transposing conventional programming constructs into graphical or physical iconic objects, to those that adopt radically new programming metaphors. By way of an example of these new approaches, we describe a novel end-user programming approach developed at the University of Essex called Pervasiveinteractive- Programming (PiP) (UK patent No. GB0523246.7) and a service coordination model known as Meta-Appliances/Applications (MAps). We report on an evaluation of user experiences using PiP in a digital home, the University of Essex iSpace. We conclude this chapter by reflecting on the main findings of our work.

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