Ubisoft - pervasive software

Ubiquitous computing enhances computer use by making many computers available throughout the physical environment, while making them effectively invisible to the user. Ubiquitous computing can be seen as a prerequisite for pervasive computing that emphasizes mobile data access, and the mechanisms needed to support a community of nomadic users. Ambient intelligence focuses on a smart way to use communication technology for making life simpler, more enjoyable and interesting. Ubiquitous software is software required for ubiquitous computing environments and in this report it includes pervasive software. Ambience intelligence is out of the scope of this report. The aim of this report is to offer Finnish companies and preparators of the Tekes-programs (ELMO, NETS, FENIX) a total view of the maturity, development needs and business opportunities of software engineering in the ubiquitous computing area. This report illustrates the state-of-the-art and requirements of ubiquitous software based on recent surveys. This report also provides a view on the state-of-the-practice of ubiquitous software in Finnish companies based on interviews made in some Finnish companies and replies received to a questionnaire sent to bigger sample of companies. State-of-the-art visions set about global ubiquitous systems, products' short-time-to-market and quality requirements that are tightening up, set ubiquitous software a huge set of requirements that include interoperability, hetereogeneity, mobility, security, adaptability, ability of self-organization, augmented reality and scalable content. Enabling technologies of ubiquitous software are standards, reference architectures and generic software technologies. Ubiquitous software development requires applying suitable software architectures and development methods that are presented in this research. Based on the stat-of-the-practise this report presents that the main challenges of ubiquitous software are achieving adaptable middleware and interoperability between services and networks, developing the required enabling technologies, defining value chain for providing the services and guaranteeing secure transactions between different stakeholders. Ubiquitous computing is seen to combine hardware and software, so new kind of development methods and architectural models are required for ubiquitous service development. Companies will have business opportunities in ubiquitous business in middleware components, for example, concerning security, enabling technologies, ubiquitous components and sensors implemented locally to various conditions such as to the surface of paper, small-sized applications, and personalized services. In principal, we suggest as important research topics in ubiquitous software arena security, management of changing requirements, middleware standards and services, cost efficient architecture solutions and ubiquitous business value chains.