Week 8

On this day we learnt about the intelligent environment and how to differentiate between smart and intelligent with our new teacher for the coming weeks, Mr. Judi Prasetyo ( I apologize if I spelt it wrong )

We learnt about the gradual yet rapid advancement in how we use computers going from one computer requiring many users to one user being able to use many computers

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We then moved on to talk about how CS transforms in certain ways and how it seamlessly immerses itself in society in time, called ubiquitous computing ( coined by Mark Weiser )

After that discussion we started our first exercise where we were asked to write about our first computer and what we used it for

Exercise 1

What kind of computer you use for the first time? What did you use it for? When was that?

The first computer I've ever used was at my grandparent's house back in India when I was around 3-4 in the mid-2000s

It was a very retro looking machine running on windows xp. I mostly used it to play old school games like gta or pinball.

We learnt what exactly an 'Intelligent Environment' is, which according to Vic Callaghan, U. of Essex is

one in which the actions of numerous networked controllers (controlling different aspects of an environment) is orchestrated by self-programming pre-emptive processes (e.g., intelligent software agents) in such a way as to create an interactive holistic functionality that enhances occupants experiences.

We had a discussion on the differences between smart and intelligent where we learnt while "smart" is the process of sensing and acting, "intelligent" acts after thinking appropriately.

We then moved on to talk about many different sensors like motions, light, sound, camera etc. we were tasked to name some ourselves beforehand.

Exercise 2

What other sensors do you know?

Sensors:

Moisture sensor

Light sensor

Gyro sensor

Camera sensor

Motion sensor

GPS sensor/Compass

After talking about sensors we moved on to Actuators which we learnt how they do the opposite function than a sensor and they are used to translate an analog/digital command into an action in the real world

We were then tasked to give 3 examples of actuators.

Exercise 3

Give at least 3 examples of actuators (other than car powered door lock) and what they are used for.

Electric motors

Brakes

Seat Adjusters

Power button

Before concluding, we were then taught the 9 principles of Intelligent Environment:

1. To be intelligent to recognize a situation where it can help.

2. To be sensible to recognize when it is allowed to offer help.

3. To deliver help according to the needs and preferences of those which is helping.

4. To achieve its goals without demanding from the user/s technical knowledge to benefit from its help.

5. To preserve privacy of the user/s.

6. To prioritize safety of the user/s at all times.

7. To have autonomous behaviour.

8. To be able to operate without forcing changes on the look and feel of the environment or on the normal routines of the environment inhabitants.

9. To adhere to the principle that the user is in command and the computer obeys, and not vice versa.