Pervasive Human Computing

Abstract

Systems involving human computation often rely on computation being distributed spatially and temporally, enabling large-scale human-driven information processing. This distribution suggests that human computation systems may be effectively supported with pervasive computing technologies, which aim to invisibly embed networked computation in everyday life. In this chapter, I consider previous work at the intersection of human computing and pervasive computing, focusing on how human computation has been deployed through mobile platforms and how localized humans can act as computer-based sensors. I suggest a number of questions for guiding future research, framed around the question of: “in what ways does the situatedness enabled by pervasive systems influence human computation?” In addition, I discuss how the pervasive computing lens of “seamless” interaction highlights issues in human computation systems of rendering both computers and computation users invisible; this lens suggests further considerations in developing pervasive human computation systems.