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Reviewer: Miguel Angel Garcia Ruiz

Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is the invisible and unobtrusive computing technology that can be integrated in everyday appliances, artifacts, and tasks. It is a promising paradigm of human-computer interaction (HCI) since one of its objectives is to make life easier by seamlessly integrating technology into people's day-to-day activities, thus minimizing their cognitive load. State-of-the-art ubicomp research, the main topic of this book, has been successfully carried out in a variety of settings and activities, such as work environments, health, home, and leisure, to support human collaboration and cooperation. In addition, as the book reflects, ubiquitous computing has become a rich, multidisciplinary, and stimulating research area. Since Weiser's seminal work on ubicomp [1], ubiquitous computing has evolved into important research areas, with most of them covered in the book (namely: pervasive computing, ambient intelligence, everyware, physical computing, Internet of things, haptic computing, things that think, and tangible bits). Ubiquitous-computing design and development is challenging?as it is perceived from some of the chapters. Among other issues, it is difficult to: find adequate world metaphors for ubicomp; carry out requirements elicitation; work with remote users; bring about the "hybridization" of the physical and digital worlds; and, select the right materials used for fabricating prototypes and ubicomp products. The 13 chapters are well grouped into four parts. Aspects of planning, design, and prototype development of embedded computing are covered: interacting within smart spaces; designing for the home and social activities; system architecture and infrastructures; and augmenting physical artifacts. Part 1 comprises four chapters and deals with augmented settings that include interconnected smart objects where people meet and interact socially with the support of ubicomp. The chapter titled "From the Disappearing Computer to Living Exhibitions: Shaping Interactivity in Museum Settings" shows an interesting approach to enhancing one's museum experience by exhibiting ordinary objects enriched with ubicomp. Visitors can inspect and use these objects for participating in a museum activity, interacting with them through radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. Part 2 is concerned with the early development steps of requirements identification and the ubicomp-human interaction design (to be applied at home and in meeting places). The compelling chapter titled "Co-designing Communication Technology with and for Families - Methods, Experience, Results and Impact" addresses the importance of carrying out longitudinal studies by working closely with people?without being obtrusive?and performing data triangulation in testing results to obtain usable ubicomp prototypes. Part 3 focuses on proposed architectures and frameworks for the intercommunication of technological artifacts. "Towards Ubiquitous Computing Applications Composed from Functionally Autonomous Hybrid Artifacts" is an interesting chapter that deals with the description of the gadgetware architectural style (GAS). GAS is a multilayered framework and architecture for setting intercommunications between smart artifacts, with the goal of enhancing their computing capabilities when working as a group?without losing their ubiquity. Part 4 comprises three approaches to using conventional materials for developing novel ubicomp artifacts and the sounds that can be attached to them. The chapter titled "Emerging Sounds for Disappearing Computers" discusses the design of soundscapes?sound effects and musical notes that are played in a particular ambient, well integrated and harmonized to it. Soundscapes are attached to everyday technological artifacts and played in a specific environment. They provide both useful information and pleasure to people, without distracting them from their activities. Although the chapters do not provide detailed summative usability evaluations, the book moves ubiquitous computing research forward because of its proposed frameworks, descriptions of advanced and useful prototypes, and novel ways to employ conventional materials for fabricating embedded computing. Its contribution will certainly prompt future ubicomp research and development. The targeted audience is HCI and computer science (CS) specialists who are involved in ubicomp research. Moreover, the book may be useful in HCI, computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW), information technology (IT), and related courses for teaching case studies and the state of the art of ubiquitous computing. Online Computing Reviews Service