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Definition
Pervasive computing refers to embedding computers and communication in our
environment. Pervasive computing provides an attractive vision for the future
of computing. The idea behind the pervasive computing is to make the computing
power disappear in the environment, but will always be there whenever needed or
in other words it means availability and invisibility. These invisible computers
won't have keyboards or screens, but will watch us, listen to us and interact
with us. Pervasive computing makes the computer operate in the messy and unstructured
world of real people and real objects. Distributed devices in this environment
must have the ability to dynamically discover and integrate other devices. The
prime goal of this technology is to make human life more simple, safe and efficient
by using the ambient intelligence of computers. Pervasive computing environments
involve the interaction, coordination, and cooperation of numerous, casually accessible,
and often invisible computing devices. These devices will connect via wired and
wireless links to one another as well as to the global networking infrastructure
to provide more relevant information and integrated services. Existing approaches
to building distributed applications, including client/server computing, are ill
suited to meet this challenge. They are targeted at smaller and less dynamic computing
environments and lack sufficient facilities to manage changes in the network configurations.
Networked
computing devices will proliferate in the user's landscape, being embedded in
objects ranging from home appliances to clothing. Applications will have greater
awareness of context, and thus will be able to provide more intelligent services
that reduce the burden on users to direct and interact with applications. Many
applications will resemble agents that carry out tasks on behalf of users by exploiting
the rich sets of services available within computing environments.
Mobile
computing and communication is one of the major parts of the pervasive computing
system. Here data and computing resources are shared among the various devices.
The coordination between these devices is maintained through communication, which
may be wired or wireless. With the advent of Bluetooth and Ad hoc networking technologies
the wireless communication has overtaken the wired counter part.The reduction
in size and cost of processor chips made it possible to implement it in every
field of life. Nowadays about 99% of processors made are for embedded devices
compared to the PC applications. Voice and Gesture recognition along with steerable
interface will make the interactions and use of these devices more user friendly.
Efficient security and privacy policies along with power management can enhance
the performance of such systems.
Current
Embedded Technology
Embedded
technology is the process of introducing computing power to various appliances.
These devices are intended to perform certain specific jobs and processors giving
the computing power are designed in an application oriented way.
Computers
are hidden in numerous information appliances which we use in our day-to- day
life. These devices find there application in every segment of life such as consumer
electronics, avionics, biomedical engineering, manufacturing, process control,
industrial, communication, defence etc… Embedded
systems, based on there functionality and performance requirement are basically
categorized as:
i. Stand alone systems
ii. Real time systems
iii.
Networked systems
iv. Mobile devices
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