Discovery of smart objects in ubiquitous environments and the need for interaction metaphors

Abstract

In ubiquitous environments computers and smart devices, especially the technical view on them, disappear and users are supported to concentrate on the tasks they actually intend to perform without having to focus on how the required devices are to be operated. This vision on the one hand further encourages the miniaturization of devices and new design concepts, on the other hand it also implies disadvantages. In such environments it is not really clear to the user which objects in a smart environment possess special capabilities. They also do not easily reveal their spectrum of functionalities.