AMEC - facilitating a user centred evolution to ambient intelligent environments

Abstract

As digital technologies become increasingly pervasive, we might find ourselves living with almost invisible, intelligent interactive systems - an 'ambient intelligence' - that forms a part of our everyday existence and ecology. The implications of this development are far reaching for individuals, businesses and communities. Ambient intelligence could lead to great opportunities. But as with all new technologies, we know that the technology itself is neither good nor bad. It is how we might use it that makes the difference. The main challenge at this moment is to guarantee that the new ambient intelligence technologies are appropriate, sustainable and meet people's individual and social needs. The AMEC project explores how an ambient ecology of products, services and content that is adaptive and intuitive to use can support domestic life in the connected home of the future