Offentlige arrangementer

Erik Grönvall, PhD, University of Siena, Italy.

Abstract
As more and more devices are embedded into the environment, there is  a risk that the user loses the understanding and control of the  system. In normal use this is not always a problem, but when for  example a breakdown occurs it is crucial that the user understand the  system to be able to handle the situation. The process to aid  heterogeneous users in the sense making and control of distributed  and ubiquitous systems becomes important. My talk will introduce  different typologies of users, and how they interact differently with  technological systems. Examples of these different user categories  can be system developers, expert users and laypeople. Technical and  user requirements to enable end-user control will be discussed,  ranging from a survey of existing middleware infrastructures and what  they offer in terms of end-user control to the state-of-the-art in  end-user programming and other means that allow end-users to control  devices and systems in the ambient.

To support the theoretical discussion, two case studies will be  presented where end-user control has been investigated using a novel  framework for Palpable Computing. Palpable here means graspable and  understandable and is manifested in a conceptual framework and a  reference implementation of a middleware for ambient and ubiquitous  computer systems. The two case studies (Neonatal Intensive Care and  Aquatic therapy for children) address the fields of service and  device composition and inspection of running entities, both from a  technical and user perspective. The two case studies will present two  different approaches to achieve end-user control and will provide the  ground for further discussions related to end-user control.

Finally, end-user control will be viewed from a political and  economical perspective and what impact open systems that allow post- production configuration and adaptation can have on the everyday life  in different situations and cultures.


About Erik Grönvall
Erik Grönvall has a Ph.D. in Information and Communication  Technologies (University of Florence) and holds a Post-doc position  at the University of Siena. He lectures e.g. Java and Physical  computing and is part of a multi-disciplinary research team that  develops technology for people that usually do not represent target  groups for novel technology. He acquired this interest while working  in the telecom and Smart home industry in Sweden where he developed  and installed IT solutions for example in elderly care centres. As a  consultant, he has been developing exhibitions related to innovative  technology in the home, presented for example at the Science museum  of London and Telecom 99 (Geneva). His current research interests can  be found in the borderline where the technology and the users meet  and include issues like end-user control, pervasive health and  personal fabrication.


Host: Olav W. Bertelsen