I am reading a lot of stuff on ubiquitous computing. I do not really know if it is possible to say what is ubiquitous computing and what is not. At the moment for me, it is easier to think the ubiquity as the next computing paradigm, which can shape developments in different areas of information and communication technologies and not only.
Consequently, the definition of a technological boundary seems to be a titanic task, maybe impossible. However several sources seem to identify four main areas of ubiquitous technologies/applications: automatic identification, sensor and actuator networks, location sensing, and service provision as a consequence of the previous one.
Some contributors and scholars also mention mobile networks (3G and Systems Beyond 4G) as an example of pervasive/ubiquitous computing.
At the OECD conference on Next Generation Networks (NGN) (2006), some of the participants argue that NGN is the base for ubiquitous paradigm in the sense that without them we cannot speak of ubiquitous computing.
All this to say that the scenario is much more complicated than the one my imagination was expecting! The challenge is to define the technological boundary of this set of technologies. The classification, listed previously, could be a way because it seems to be a common one among researchers.
Another possible solution comes from the fact that my analysis wants to investigate the existence or not of an European path of innovation in these technologies and if an European policy for these technologies exists or not. At EU level ubiquitous/pervasive technologies are part of the so-called Emerging Technologies group. The “Disappearing Computer” initiative has been the main group of European (not only) projects on ubiquitous computing (FP5/FP6). The idea could be to study this initiative and see which technologies are in and which are out. I understand that there are some limitations in doing that, but it could be a way of make things clear (a little bit)!