6. Future goals and challenges

Ubiquitous computing must focus on making the technology work for the user and providing useful applications that augment our current interactions with our environment. This is a challenge from an HCI perspective, focusing on robustness and scaleability, making them available to us when and where we want them, yet not obtrusive.

Social implications of ubi comp involve several different viewpoints. Technology and computers are everywhere already and in some discussions, are becoming ubiquitous simply by propogating our world. Telephones, cars and writing devices have all at one time been overwhelmingly obstrusive and obvious, but over time, people have gotten used to them and would have a difficult time living life without them. This is another issue of robustness, allowing the user to continue to do the tasks if the system or device breaks or shuts down; asking "to what extent to we depend on this technology?" allows an evaluator to test flexibility and how available it is every day. Issues of security and privacy are also of serious consideration in ubiquitous computing environments.