Does an European pervasive/ubiquitous computing system of innovation exist? Which are the actors and how these actors are networked? If this system exists, what is its performance? How is European technology policy contributing to the development of such a system? These are some of the questions, which I am addressing in my current research.

Regarding a definition of pervasive/ubiquitous computing, it is very difficult to find a consesus on this topic among scholars. Pervasive and ubiquitous computing represents a new computing paradigm. Analyzing different interpretations of this paradigm, we can find a common consideration. This is the following: talking of pervasive and ubiquitous ICT means seeing physical objects and spaces linked to the digital world. Information abou the physical world can be then used to augment human functionality and experience. To sum up, the real world has intelligence embedded in it in order to support human activities. This idea is present in almost all the pervasive and ubiquitous computing literature: Weiser, intelligent spaces literature, ambient intelligence (EU 6th Framework Programme).

Taking this vision as our definition of pervasive/ubiquitous computing, it is possible to identify the following types of pervasive/ubiquitous applications:

  • Digital objects embedded in the physical world such as RFID (Radio Frequency ID) tags and sensor networks to probe events in the physical world.
  • Communication devices at global and local level.
  • Mining and processing data.
  • Interdisciplinary applications such as digital architecture, digital ecology.

The system of innovation will be composed of actors (companies, universities, research institutes, policy making bodies) actively involved in the development of pervasive/ubiquitous solutions. The geographical boundary of the system is the European Union.