Smart Environments: Technology, Protocols and Applications

Citation

Hutton, D.M. (2005), "Smart Environments: Technology, Protocols and Applications", Kybernetes, Vol. 34 No. 6, pp. 903-904. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920510595580

This is a multidisciplinary book with contributions from a number of our leading edge researchers who are authorities in their own fields. But it is not any one individual contribution that stands out, rather the whole endeavour. This is one of our research topics that has attracted much attention because it brings together the designers and developers of computers with scientists and engineers. The resulting research on smart environments is a model of initiative and innovation. The chapters of this volume confirm the wide‐ranging interests of its contributors. The subjects chosen include:

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  wireless sensor networks;

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  pervasive technology;

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  middleware;

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  home and office networking and appliances;

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  prediction algorithms;

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  location and estimation techniques;

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  automated decision making;

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  privacy and security issues; and

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  assistive environments for individuals with special needs.

Finally, future research and development was discussed and a predicted assessment of future trends was given. As soon as potential readers see a book title with “smart” in it, there will be speculation about the degree of “intelligence” the environments will achieve. lt is only when the book is studied and the accompanying web site visited that the true picture emerges – it is not just another AI text. This is confirmed by examining the smart environment developments outlined on the web sites that are so conveniently listed.

It is an interesting and informative book that catches the imagination and although it too will date, as more research is completed, it is well worth reading for its current state‐of‐the‐art contributions.