Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing

Ubiquitous computing, or what the designer/information architect Adam Greenfield calls "Everyware," is an emerging trend just starting to gain attention as it also gains momentum. The term refers to the integration of computers embedded in everyday objects with an ever-present network-moving computing off the desktop and into every aspect of our lives, creating an environment where nearly every object is enabled with surprising new properties. We already can see evidence of this technology and the tremendous convenience it affords us in such devices as the camera phone and PDA, the EZPass that lets us pay tolls without stopping, the ID chip that helps find lost pets, the GPS system that offers driving directions, and the iris scanner that confirms a person's identity. These ingenious systems offer convenience, innovative product opportunities, and sometimes security; but to function effectively, Everyware comes at a cost of privacy and autonomy. As consumers, we owe it to ourselves to become aware of this trend so that we can have a voice in its development.