Ubiquitous computing and network society

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Ubiquitous computing and network society

• PSI 2007
• Kaido Kikkas

This document uses the GNU Free Documentation
License (v1.2 or newer).
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Ubiquitous computing?

• Wikipedia "Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp)
  integrates computation into the environment,
  rather than having computers which are distinct
  objects.
• A.k.a
• pervasive computing
• calm technology
• things that think
• everyware
• pervasive Internet

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Social Hackerism

• Pekka Himanen (Hacker Ethic and The
  Information Society and the Welfare State)
  hacker-derived models as a base for network
  societies of the future
• intrinsic drive towards new things
• free, informal processes
• overall inclusiveness
• A crucial ingredient of network society

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For comparison Estonia 2010

• The set of scenarios for the future, formulated
  by a team of visionaries in 1995-97
• The four scenarios
• Military information oasis
• South Finland
• The Ferryman
• Grand Slam

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A closer look

• Military info oasis good technological standing
  with little openness
• Southern Finland little innovation
• the Ferryman one-sided development
• Grand Slam the ICT/business paradise
• All scenarios lack one thing the social
  cohesiveness and community thinking! Even the
  Grand Slam is mostly about businessmen, not
  hackers

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Needs for ubicomp HIIT 2006

• Communication infrastructure a gigabit for
  everyone.
• The basic physical medium which is powerful
  enough to carry a wide variety of services
  (Internet, TV, radio, phone, security, health
  care for elderly people etc).
• Information security infrastructure safety and
  reliability for everyone.
• Includes clear hierarchy of different networks as
  well as public encryption services and other
  privacy measures.
• Information infrastructure mobilization of
  information as raw material for services.
• Includes good information management and
  avoidance of various artificial obstacles in the
  way of information flow.

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...

• Service infrastructure open service
  architectures and interfaces.
• Again, artificial obstacles like proprietary
  standards and interfaces should be avoided.
• From idea to service promotion of innovation.
• Includes suitable methods and facilities for
  supporting innovation (various foundations etc).
• Legal regulation defining the basic rules of the
  ubiquitous network society.
• Especially important is to find a balanced
  approach to the "intellectual property rights"
  which has recently proved to be ineffective.

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...

• From research to services study of the
  ubiquitous network society.
• Covers the sustenance measures of the network
  society itself.
• From ubi-Finland to ubi-Europe the European
  dimension of the network society.
• To create an isolated ubicomp island in a
  relatively less developed wider region does not
  fulfil its purpose.

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Have a cake and eat it too?

• Or are welfare state and information society
  mutually exclusive or can they coexist?
• Estonian vision competitive economy, welfare
  state is secondary and may become a burden
• Himanen's (and others') vision can have both
• The three existing scenarios Silicon Valley,
  Singapore and Old Europe (see previous lecture)
• What is needed for the fourth way?

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10 values for sustainable network society

• Caring
• equality and justice, fairness and universal
  inclusion as well as equal opportunities the key
  ideas of the welfare state. Stressing caring
  would help prevent the negative consequences of
  overcompetitive scenarios.
• Confidence
• Confidence is partly based on caring, being also
  a basis of the welfare state. Confidence gives
  safety, makes fruitful communality possible and
  prevents an atmosphere of fear.
• Communality
• being part of a larger community, living with
  others and doing things together.

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...

• Encouragement
• "I do not want to take anything away from others
  instead, I work to make it possible for everyone
  to have more." positive spurring and
  stimulation. Another aspect here is the
  'post-scarcity' resources are not scarce there
  is plenty for everyone. The antithesis of
  communality and encouragement would be an overall
  atmosphere of envy.
• Freedom
• "Whatever adults do of their own free will is all
  right, provided that they do not hurt other
  people" includes the rights of individuality
  the freedom of expression, the protection of
  privacy and tolerance for differences.

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...

• Creativity
• creative passion, need for self-fulfilment and
  personal growth (also the main points behind the
  hacker ethic in general). Excessive control in
  society would in turn reduce both freedom and
  creativity.
• Courage
• required to realise the other values. One has to
  be courageous to attempt new, unknown things and
  sometimes to resist overwhelming negative
  circumstances.
• Visionariness
• refers to the courage to dream, the willingness
  to make this world a better place is effectively
  a combination of courage and insight.

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...

• Balance
• refers to the balance between the other values,
  sustainability and moderation.
• Meaningfulness
• depends on the extent to which development
  promotes intrinsic values, such as the classical
  values of wisdom, goodness and beauty. The
  central question is "Will this make my life more
  meaningful?" Ultimately it boils down to the fact
  that economic success alone is insufficient to
  create a sustainable society.

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Three sources

• Classical values - justice, courage, temperance
  (moderation) and wisdom
• Christian values - faith, hope and love
• Enlightenment values - liberty, equality and
  fraternity
• Idealistic? Definitely. But gives some real food
  for thought.

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Final words

• The ubicomp is a realistic goal, but...
• it will not materialise in a purely
  economically-oriented society
• Welfare state and information society can
  probably exist side by side
• Value-based society is more sustainable than a
  totally opportunistic one