Ambient intelligence

Subject description

1. Introduction to ambient intelligence: principles; related fields; terminology; definitions

2. Ambient in the context of perception and creation of multimedia content

3. Ambient intelligence: pervasive technologies in relation to user: multimedia technology applications in variety of intelligent environments; understanding user's mental model development in intelligent environments

4. Context definition: context definition for selected activity; selection of relevant sensors and information sources; processing; networking

5. Technologies enabling user's activities in selected contexts: pervasive computing; embedded systems; sensors; ICT technologies

6. User: interaction with environment; mental model development; modalities; channels

7. Communication human-ambient: interfaces; input/output devices; user and ambient sensing; modalities; personalization; connectivity

8. Prototyping of ambient intelligence systems

9. Research activities on selected application domains: home; entertainment; learning; professional environments; analysis and requirements definition

10. Practical work: designing a prototype for selected domain; interaction design tools; interaction prototype demonstration; assessment

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

The goal is to understand roles of ambient intelligence in multimedia and apply acquired competences for designing solutions.

Understanding ambient intelligence in modern multimedia systems with relation to users.

Managing data path from sensor to resulting ambient intelligence.

Mastering concepts and building blocks of ambient intelligence. Understanding roles of pervasive technologies and their applications in modern services.

Teaching and learning methods

The lectures provide a theoretical background on selected topics together with simple practical demonstrations. A complete study material is available online.

Practical work is being performed in the laboratory environment. Individual projects are based on selected topics and presented by students.

Expected study results

After successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

Compare communication-information and multimedia technologies and their use in different smart environments.

To apply technologies of ambient intelligence in interaction with users.

To treat ergonomics in wider context.

To distinguish limitations of information delivery using different modalities.

Modelling user’s interaction with the technology.

Adapt multimedia content for different modalities.

Utilize various approaches to interface and interaction design.

Basic sources and literature

1. Benyon D. Designing User Experience: A guide to HCI, UX and interaction design. Pearson, 4th Edition, 2019.

2. Cook, D. J., Augusto, J. C., & Jakkula, V. R. (2009). Ambient intelligence: Technologies, applications, and opportunities. Pervasive and mobile computing, 5(4), 277-298.

3. Cook, D. J., Augusto, J. C., & Jakkula, V. R. (2009). Ambient intelligence: Technologies, applications, and opportunities. Pervasive and mobile computing, 5(4), 277-298.

4. Ghajargar, M., Wiberg, M., & Stolterman, E. (2018). Designing IoT systems that support reflective thinking: A relational approach. International Journal of Design, 12(1), 21-35.

5. Wiberg, M. (2018). The materiality of interaction: Notes on the materials of interaction design. MIT press.

6. Lim, Y. K., Stolterman, E., & Tenenberg, J. (2008). The anatomy of prototypes: Prototypes as filters, prototypes as manifestations of design ideas. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), 15(2), 1-27.