A Brief History of the Future of Urban Computing

Since the late 1980s, researchers have been working on a “post-desktop” paradigm for human-computer interaction known as ubiquitous or pervasive computing. Combining any number of mobile, networked and context-aware technologies, this vision hinges on the possibility of embedding computational capacities in the objects and environments that surround us. In order not to be overwhelmed by such a proliferation of new technologies, researchers have most often worked to integrate them in ways that make it difficult to identify when and where we interact with these systems. For example, many of us are aware of, or have used, Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies in our vehicles, or Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies in public transportation passes like London’s Oyster card and Hong Kong’s Octopus card. When sensor technologies are added to the mix, these systems can measure and monitor everything from environmental conditions such as air pollution or noise levels, to bodily functions such as heart-rate or temperature, and connect that data to any number of applications or services. While certainly not infallible technologies, interaction with such systems is generally so seamless that it is easy to overlook the significant infrastructure that underpins their management and use.