Reconciling Humans and Technology: The Role of Ambient Intelligence

Abstract

This keynote presentation explores the role of Ambient Intelligence in current technical and social contexts related to smart cities. Having identified some undesirable tendencies, conclusions and design recommendations are provided on how to remedy the situation. This includes the need for redefining the ‘smart everything’ paradigm, in order to reconcile humans and technology.

It starts out with placing Ambient Intelligence in the context of Ubiquitous Computing, Disappearing Computer and Internet of Things (IoT). The application areas discussed are motivated by living in the Urban Age, i.e. the increasing importance and preeminent role of cities. Examples are ‘transient spaces’ and airports viewed as ‘transient cities’. Different notions of the ‘smart city of the future’ are introduced and complemented by the concept of ‘hybrid cities’, i.e. integrating the virtual, digital world with the real, physical world.

The current hype about abundant business opportunities of smart cities requires a critical investigation. The Internet of Things (IoT) provides the infrastructure for collecting data about urban objects and citizens including their behavior. A wide range of information is combined and subjected to extensive ‘big data’ exploitation efforts – very often conducted without explicit consent of the people involved. In order to explore the challenges, but also the venues towards a more human-centered IoT, resp. an Ambient Intelligence approach, one has to explore the implications of matching people’s profiles with service options available at specific locations. A major focus is on the risks resulting from smart city installations, especially the serious infringements of privacy rights, i.e., usage of personal data without consent of the people concerned.

Our thesis is that a critical reflection of different manifestations of the ‘smart everything’ paradigm is needed in order to meet the overall goal of reconciling humans and technology. A central aspect of this goal is to keep the ‘human in the loop’ and in control. Therefore, a citizen-centered design approach for future cities is needed, helping us to go ‘beyond smart-only cities’ and transform them into Humane, Sociable and Cooperative Smart Hybrid Cities.