Relation-based Spatial Adaptation in Pervasive Computing Report of a Research Visit Funded by PerAda

This article reports on my research visit at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy, in June/July 2009. The purpose of the visit was the elaboration of principles and methods of pervasive adaptation to spatial contexts. More precisely, it addressed the autonomous adaptation of pervasive information and communication systems to their position, direction and spatial extension with respect to the surrounding space as well as with respect to co-located systems. This is an upcoming research topic, especially with regard to taking into account spatial relations between spontaneously networked computers that are embedded in everyday artifacts, as they usually operate without a centralized control and thus have to autonomously adapt to their current spatial situation or context. As spatial context information – i.e. spatial properties like position and extension as well as relations between them – can be highly dynamic due to the mobility of computers and other computationally augmented artifacts, not only their static spatial situations but also context-changes over time play a key role in pervasive adaptation. With this research visit, a first step towards a long-term collaboration between the involved institutions concerning the relation-based spatial adaptation of mobile devices has been made.