A Conceptual Framework for Enabling Community-Driven Extensible, Open and Privacy-Preserving Ubiquitous Computing Networks

Abstract

Ubiquitous computing is quickly becoming mainstream technology and one “killer app” in the field is that it makes unprecedented amounts of data available for data mining purposes. Advanced knowledge discovery techniques make it possible to create detailed profiles of individuals by combining and enriching data collected from a variety of different anonymous data sources. Access to this kind of data may itself become a key driving factor of large-scale ubiquitous computing deployment efforts in the future. Here, a proposal for a set of criteria and enabling technologies for creating low-cost, privacy-preserving grassroots-driven ubiquitous computing applications and infrastructures is outlined. Further, it is argued that a empowered community dedicated to the creation of a privacy-preserving ubiquitous computing ecology might act as a strong-enough counter-force against large-scale industrial deployments that intend to capitalize on this emerging, and potentially fertile market. Additionally, some early results from a real-life deployment of a network of public displays, which implements some of these principles, is also presented.