History

Ambient computing is not a new theme. Work on it has been going on from very early days of computing. Naturally, the question arises that in that case, why isn’t ambient computing sufficiently advanced right now? We will discuss it. But, first, let’s have a look at all the past attempts in this domain.

1990s | Mark Weiser & PARC

The concept of ambient computing was first proposed in 1988 by Mark Weiser, who was a computer scientist at Xerox PARC. He envisioned a world where computing would be embedded into the environment around us, rather than requiring us to interact with traditional computers. There might be a possibility of traces of ambient computing before this point but this is the only record we have with us at the moment.  

Mark, in his renowned work “The Computer for the 21st Century” stated that “the idea of a "personal" computer itself is misplaced, and that the vision of laptop machines, dyna books and "knowledge navigators" is only a transitional step toward achieving the real potential of information technology”. He introduced us to the “Idea of integrating computers seamlessly into the world at large runs counter to a number of present-day trends.” And “The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”

His work at PARC has also heavily revolved around the idea of ambient computing. He introduced “active badge systems” in the office building. It was an early attempt at RFID-based space access and employee tracking system.  

He had been working on multiple similar projects till he died in 1999 due to cancer. Though he wasn’t able to drive the idea of ambient computers forward, he definitely spread the foundational idea of ubiquitous computers across the industry.  

Early 2000s | IOT

In 1999, the computer scientist Kevin Ashton coined the term "Internet of Things" (IoT) to describe a vision of a world where everyday objects are connected to the internet and can communicate with each other. LG was one of the first companies to bring this vision to life with the release of its "Internet Digital DIOS" refrigerator in 2000. This refrigerator featured a built-in display, web browser, and other advanced features that were unheard of at the time. It was a landmark moment in the history of IoT.

While IOT devices are a crucial building block of ambient computing, they alone are not enough to make a system truly "ambient." It's the interconnectedness of these devices and the way they collect and process data from their surroundings that creates the truly immersive, ambient experience. The sensors and interfaces of IOT devices allow them to gather and transmit information about the environment, which is then analyzed and used to create a more responsive and intuitive experience for the user.

2010s | Smart Home Speakers & Wearables

Amazon's launch of Alexa in 2014 marked the beginning of the era of ambient computing as we know it today. While Alexa was initially marketed as a smart home speaker, the company's vision has always been for the device to become a central part of the home. The Alexa team has continued to work on developing the device's capabilities, allowing it to understand more complex interactions and respond intuitively to users' needs.

The success of Alexa prompted other tech giants to develop their own smart home speakers. Google launched its Nest line of products, and Apple created the HomePod. Today, the smart home market is competitive, with multiple companies trying to develop the best device to fill this role. Each of these devices has its own unique set of features and limitations.

Wearables → The 2010s saw a surge in the popularity of wearable technology. Smart watches, wireless earbuds, and fitness trackers became more and more commonplace. These devices not only allowed for more convenient access to information and entertainment, but also provided a new way to collect data about human behavior. Though each wearable device operates independently, the data they collect can be used to inform and enhance ambient computing systems.

Current Active Works of Companies

1. Google

Rick Osterloh, Google’s head of hardware have been betting big on ambient computing. They brought multiple innovations via their Nest and Pixel devices.

In a conference he was saying that “Your devices work together with services and AI, so help is anywhere you want it, and it’s fluid. The technology just fades into the background when you don’t need it. So the devices aren’t the center of the system — you are, which is the core of ambient computing.“ He also has been careful to point out their central focus towards pocketable computer for the short term by telling “Certainly for the foreseeable future, we feel like the most crucial part of that is the pocketable computer, the mobile phone”

Google’s ATAP, a secretive hardware lab, since its inception have been working to create innovative hardware products that can accelerate the vision of ambient computing. Via Jacquard, they brought computing to our yarn, to our clothes. And, with Soli, they were able to detect micro movements via Radar, and ML.

2. Amazon

Contrary to other companies, Amazon’s goal had been to create a disappearing computer. Dave Limp, Amazon’s head of hardware says "Think of Alexa as a framework of connected systems that we call ambient intelligence. It's not just one individual system, but rather a network of devices and services that work together both in the cloud and on your devices. Behind the scenes, there are hundreds of different services working together to make Alexa work. Some are running locally on your devices, while others are running remotely in the cloud. The idea is that all of these services work together to create a more intelligent and personalized experience for the user.”

It is exciting to see the grand vision of Amazon taking shape via Alexa, and other associated products.  

3. Other Companies

Other companies like Humane have been working tirelessly to remove general human’s dependence on central devices by sending intelligence to the backend. There are many other companies as well who all are working in different areas.

Virtual Reality → It is very important to note that virtual reality is exactly opposite to the central idea of ambient computing. While VR wants you to enter into an imaginary world full of fantasies. But ambient computing tends to bring intelligence into our current life, making us live it more fully. Companies like Meta, and Microsoft have been actively working to drive the vision of VR through their hardware products.

With the recent launch of Vision Pro, Apple also entered into the space of AR & VR. It is very important to note that the release of Apple's "Vision Pro" technology signified a shift in how the tech industry viewed human-computer interaction. It sparked a focus on more natural and intuitive forms of interaction, such as using eye movements and hand gestures.

The need for change?

The advent of personal computing in the 90s represented a major shift in the way people interacted with technology. Prior to that, computers were primarily used in specialized settings, but the rise of the PC brought computing into the home and made it more accessible to everyday users. In the next few years, different types of products came into the picture, and all of them revolved around making different software to solve human problems. Early ambient systems majorly failed against the other computing systems because the software was developed targeting these computers. And, there was not enough advanced technology for these ambient systems to operate. Everything leads to low utility that could be provided via these systems. And we are at a stage where we have software, or an API for almost every imaginable thing.

And I see that it was a good turn. Technologies however good they maybe cannot sustain a market ahead of their time. In order to get wider adoption, technology needs to mature, it should have political and social acceptance at an affordable price point. And, importantly, it needs to add value to the humans.

Thanks to advances in sensing and processing technology, it's now possible to create ambient systems that can truly integrate with humans. We can leverage these technologies to create a new kind of human-machine interface that goes beyond traditional screens and buttons. Instead, these systems can use our natural senses and behaviors to interact with us in more intuitive and seamless ways.