Ambient Intelligence, the Future of the Smart Office
04 January 2024 • Article Summary
Business Insider: The rise of AI is fueling a seamless technology evolution called ambient computing. Here's what that could mean for us.
How people use technologies in the future is likely to involve ambient computing, a world where there is no need for conscious interaction as billions of devices will work invisibly in the background and only come to the fore when necessary.
Ambient computing is highly responsive and personalized to the needs, preferences, and environments of the end user.
Delivering ambient experiences requires unprecedented co-ordination between services, data, and AI-based technologies, particularly in the Internet of Things (IoT) and consumer tech markets that consist of billions of sensors and devices worldwide. Sensors and smartphones are critical technologies for ambient computing, now and in the future. They will provide the contextual awareness that is needed to facilitate ambient experiences, gathering information about various public or private environments and then making this information relevant to people based on their own unique preferences.
Key use cases:
- In future buildings, the user experience will be completely automatic, providing more relevant insights to the user and those around them. For example, in the age of hybrid working, future workplaces will automatically book desks or rooms for workers as soon as they walk into the building based on their role and schedule.
- Future hospitals or care homes will be able to detect physical or physiological movement, such as breathing, heart rates, and even falls among patients by using sensors installed throughout buildings. This will identify any healthcare issues early, removing the need for constant doctor, nurse, or care worker supervision, and potentially save lives.
- For those with accessibility or neurodiversity challenges, ambient computing can adapt to public environments to improve their experiences.
Big technology challenges
As with any future technology step-change, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed. In the case of ambient computing, this largely revolves around the need for more compatibility, compute power, connectivity, and security. Sensors, smartphones, and wider supporting technologies will need to be part of highly connected systems. This connectivity will facilitate highly personalized ambient experiences through greater communication and information sharing. Meanwhile, the collection of valuable personal data to create personalized ambient experiences means advanced privacy and security features across all technologies.
Ambient computing promises a step-change in how people interact and use technology in their daily lives. It means moving away from a world where people touch and use their devices and towards seamless experiences influenced by their preferences and environments, that simply happen. While ambient experiences are already occurring today, making it a firm reality will require more technology, computing, AI, connectivity, and security.