Building Networkable Smart and Cooperating Objects

Wireless networks and sensor technology have converged, and are being broadly applied in numerous areas. Amongst other things, pervasive computing highlights a specific aspect of this convergence, namely the integration of distributed sensing and wireless communications into everyday objects. The rationale that future computing systems should be unobtrusive and form a seamless part of our environment not only underpins this objective, it demands that the integration process be effective. It is challenging to design and build Smart Objects. It is more even challenging to seek to transform our everyday environments, and the objects in them, on a massive scale. This Chapter addresses the practical problem of building a networkable Smart Object that is expected to perform largely the same physical functions as its current ‘dumb’ equivalent, while ‘infusing’ its use-space with an intelligence that supports intuitive interaction, creativity and provides access to significant computing resources on demand. An approach, which is based upon hierarchical systems architectures, uses the construction of a smart table to investigate what is required in terms of ‘whole-smart-artifact design’ and (current and future) materials and also outlines issues relating to how (and when) the actual physical integration process should be implemented.