UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > Public talk on “invisible” computers all around us

Next History Week speaker re-opens Anzac "myth-making" file September 14, 2005  

Previous UNE community contributes to Oxfam's tsunami relief work September 12, 2005 

Public talk on “invisible” computers all around us

September 13, 2005

A.S.M. SajeevComputers are infiltrating your life in ways you never even guessed at: that's the topic of a public lecture to be given at the Armidale Town Hall on September 21 by A.S.M. Sajeev, Professor of Computer Science at The University of New England.

The lecture, titled “Here a Chip, There a Chip...the Story of Ubiquitous Computing”, will challenge the traditional notion that a computer is a box we sit in front of and interact with via a screen, keyboard and mouse.

The term “ubiquitous computing” refers to a world where computers are all around us - some visible, some not – without our necessarily being aware of them.

“Computers are everywhere,” Professor Sajeev said, “but they don't necessarily advertise their presence. For example, we have computers that control our air conditioning systems. We might not realise it, but they are constantly monitoring the temperature and the comfort level, and adjusting the air conditioning settings accordingly.”

Other examples of ubiquitous computing can be found in our cars, Professor Sajeev said, where computers control air bag systems and monitor engine conditions. In the near future cars might even be able to “talk” to navigation networks – to get information on traffic conditions, for instance.

“If your car's computer were linked to the RTA's computer system, for instance, and there were a major accident on the route your were taking, then the RTA computer could tell your car there were going to be long delays further down the road,” Professor Sajeev said. “And if that's linked to a navigation system, then the navigation system could show you what alternative routes were available.”

The future could even bring “wearable” computers that would make our lives easier, Professor Sajeev said. “A computer attached to our glasses, for example. If I am a tourist visiting Venice and I want to see a map of all the interesting places, a computer could display that on my glasses and show me where I am and all the places I can visit and how to get there.”

Professor Sajeev said generally speaking ubiquitous computing was a boon for mankind, but admitted there could be dangers if the technology fell into the wrong hands.

“It does present some challenges in terms of privacy and security,” he said. “Terrorists or criminals might be able to 'listen in' on the information being passed between these computers, and use it to commit crimes. That is something that will require much further investigation.”

Professor Sajeev is Head of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at The University of New England. His area of expertise is software engineering. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Monash University and a Bachelor degree with Honours in Electrical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, India. Professor Sajeev is also a fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Australia.

“Here a Chip, There a Chip...the Story of Ubiquitous Computing” will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 21 at Armidale Town Hall. All are welcome. For more information contact UNE events coordinator Kerry De Jong on 6773 2114.

A photo is available to accompany this story. For more information contact Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771.

Posted by Leon Braun at September 13, 2005 11:33 AM