Reaching for seamless interaction in information environments

The overarching goal of PARC's research in ubiquitous computing today is to achieve an environment of "seamless interaction" -- where people control information environments as a seamless whole as opposed to managing collections of networked components. We take a three-front strategy toward this objective: Ubiquity, Natural Interaction, and Proactivity. Hardware trends continue to drive the ubiquity of computation as miniaturization and the digitalization of media creates technologies that are increasingly portable as well as embedded in buildings, appliances, furniture, clothing and more. New technologies create ways for people to use more natural interaction styles that match the embodied ways we interact with the physical world. Sensor systems have made it possible for systems to become proactive in filtering, sorting, and presenting information, even sometimes taking action that is appropriate to the situation. This presentation describes several projects in these research thrusts and reflect on some of the lessons learned for user-centered methods for the design of pervasive, behavior-adapting applications.