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 ETH Zurich :
Computer Science :
Pervasive Computing :
Distributed Systems :
Research
Research in the Distributed Systems Group
The overall research interests of the Distributed Systems Group span the broad
fields of models and concepts for distributed computations, ubiquitous
computing, Internet of Things, architectures for sensor networks, infrastructure support for smart real-world objects, interaction in smart environments, and privacy and security concepts. A
brochure with a summary of our research activities is also available.
This page provides an overview of our research, organized into three different
areas: our main research topics, a list of
individual projects, and brief descriptions of our
demonstrators.
A separate page describes (in German) our research on
distributed algorithms. The publications of
the group may be found on the publications page
and copies of selected presentations are located on the talks page. Research-related events are listed on the events page. Also available is a brief answer to the question "What is ubiquitous computing?".
Research Topics
Research Topics provide the overarching framework for our activities. Each item
below links to a brief description of the research area, including a list of
corresponding publications and student projects. For a more concise summary of
our activities, see also our Research Overview.
- Smart Cooperative Objects
This research topic concerns the creation, installation, management,
and interaction with smart objects. Of particular interest to us are also
security and dependability issues, context-aware collaboration, as well as
infrastructure support.
- Infrastructures
What kind of infrastructures do we need to support smart collaborating objects?
- Technologies
What are the key technologies for ubiquitous computing?
- Interaction
How can we interact with smart objects?
- Context-Aware Collaboration
How can context information improve the interaction between smart everyday objects and their environment?
- Dependability
How can we achieve robustness and reliability in ubiquitous computing environments?
- Security
How can we counter the threats arising in ubiquitous computing?
- Sensor Networks
Sensor networks consist of large numbers of tiny autonomous computing
devices, each equipped with sensors, a wireless radio, a processor, and a
power source. Their close integration with the physical world imposes a
number of novel and challenging research problems.
- Privacy
The massive deployment of smart cooperating objects with fine-grained
sensing and large-scale communication capabilities has potentially large
consequences for our personal privacy. We are investigating how future
ubiquitous computing systems can support a sufficient level of privacy
awareness.
- Social Implications
Privacy is but one aspect of our everyday that might substantially be
altered by the deployment of ubiquitous computing environments. In order to
better understand the non-technical requirements of such systems, we are
investigating the social, economic, and ethical implications of ubiquitous
computing.
Projects and Cooperations with External Partners
We are or have been conducting a number of internal and external research
projects with a wide variety of industrial and academic partners. Follow the
links below for more information on the individual projects.
- NCCR-MICS
As part of the Mobile Information and Communication Systems (MICS) project – a long term research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation – we are investigating architecture and infrastructure issues for smart cooperating objects.
- SNIF
SNIF is a Sensor Network Inspection Framework that supports passive observation and inspection of deployed Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). It consists of a distributed sniffer, a new package description language, and a data stream engine with multiple operators.
- Fosstrak (formerly Accada)
Fosstrak is an open source RFID software platform that implements the EPC Network specifications. It is intended to foster the rapid prototyping of RFID applications and to accelerate the development of an Internet of Things.
- Web of Things
The world of embedded devices has experienced radical changes over the past few years as real-world objects can now easily connect to the Internet. This convergence of physical computing devices (wireless sensor networks, mobile phones, embedded computers, etc.) and the Internet provides new design opportunities and challenges. The Web of Things is the vision that brings embedded devices into the Web by using Web standards (e.g. HTTP, REST, Atom, JSON, Comet, etc.) as application protocols to interact with things.
- Bits to Energy Lab
In collaboration with the Chair of Information Management and the University of St. Gallen, we investigate ubiquitous computing's potential contribution to a more efficient use of energy.
- SPARK - Rapid Prototyping on Mobile Phones
In this project we developed a rapid prototping environment that targets specifically novice users
and enables then to create mobile phone applications in a very easy and fast way.
- eMeter
One of the major causes of abusive energy consumption in households is due to the existing intransparency. Thus, the eMeter system provides feedback on the residential electricty consumption of the entire household as well as on the consumption of single devices. Through connecting smart electricity meters with a mobile application, we investigate what feedback is best suited to lower usage barrieres and motivate users to change change their behavior in order to achieve sustainable energy savings.
- BaToo - Barcode Recognition Toolkit
In this project we are developing a free toolkit for the recognition and resolving of 1D barcodes
on camera equipped mobile phones. Using this toolkit, we are implementing and investigating services that
are based on the linking of the wide range of barcode tagged products with an abundance of various
information sources available on the web.
- Augmented Knight's Castle
The Augmented Knight's Castle is an augmented toy environment that enriches the children's pretend play by using background music, sound effects, verbal commentary of toys, and different forms of tactile and visual feedback in reaction to the children's play. Moreover, interactive learning experiences can be integrated into the play.
- Dyser - A Real World Search Engine
In collaboration with NTT DoCoMo Euro-Labs, we developed
a system for searching the real world, based on dynamic information gathered
by a large number of heterogeneous sensors and sensor networks.
Within the scope of this project, we also investigated to what extent the
built-in Bluetooth modules of modern mobile phones can be used to sense the
dynamics of people at public places.
- LOP - Location Oriented Programming
In the LOP project we explore the idea, design and implication of making location a first class programming construct.
- Facet (ended December 2008)
Facet is a software that allows to build smart camera networks based on standard mobile phones.
- SAP Research Switzerland
As part of a long-term cooperation we work together with SAP Research Switzerland in the joint areas of Internet of Things, Internet of Services and device to business integration.
- M-Lab (ended December 2008)
In a cooperation with the University of St.
Gallen and a large range of industrial partners, we are developing
business applications in the domain of pervasive and ubiquitous computing.
- InfoTraffic (ended November 2007)
The objective of the project InfoTraffic is the development and provision of interactive learning environments. InfoTraffic helps students learn about several important concepts of computer science through the scenario traffic-control and traffic-simulation. InfoTraffic is a cooperation with Prof. Dr. Werner Hartmann from PH Bern.
- Hitachi Mu-chip (ended March 2007)
A research cooperation with the Hitachi Systems
Development Laboratory, Japan, that explores applications for tiny,
sub-millimeter-sized RFID tags.
- MICO (ended December 2006)
MICO Is CORBA – this self-referential name
describes an Open Source implementation of the CORBA specification that has
been widely deployed in industry, research, and education.
- UbiGate (ended February 2007)
In collaboration with NTT DoCoMo Euro-Labs, we developed
a system for locating and monitoring everyday items using sensor-equipped
mobile phones. This system allowed us to identify
challenges that are common to many applications which make use of the large
people-centric infrastructure provided by mobile phones and the cellular
network.
- Embedded WiSeNts (ended February 2007)
Cooperating embedded systems (such as wireless sensor networks and
smart cooperating objects) are a potentially disruptive technology.
However, the concrete realization of this vision is still unclear.
We participate in this European coordination action to clarify this
issue.
- Visual Codes (ended October 2005)
In this project we evaluate the use of CCD cameras built into off-the-shelf mobile phones to act as sensors for 2-dimensional visual codes.
- Living in a Smart Environment (ended February 2005)
Funded by the Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz
foundation, we lead a team of researchers from seven universities
exploring possible social, economic, and ethical consequences of
large-scale ubiquitous computing deployments.
- Entry Points (ended December 2003)
Within the ETH
World program, we are developing a material entry point system for
connecting the virtual campus to the physical campus environment.
- Smart-Its (ended December 2003)
Within the EU-funded Disappearing Computer
initiative we developed a sensore-node platform, the so-called
"Smart-It", which can be attached to everyday items in order to
support collaborative behavior among objects.
- DC Troubadour (ended June 2003)
Within the Disappearing Computer
(DC) initiative, we conducted a survey of the state of privacy in a large number
of DC projects.
- P3P (ended April 2002)
Within the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C), we participated in the design of P3P, an emerging
world-wide standard for machine-readable privacy policies.
- CASTING (ended December 2000)
Together with Swisscom
Corporate Research, we investigated the application of smart card
technology in combination with short-distance wireless communication.
Demonstrators
In order to validate theoretical findings, as well as to provide a testbed
for trying out new ideas, we are developing demonstrator systems as part of
many research investigations. Below you can find a list of some of the
prototypes we have developed as part of our research into pervasive and
ubiquitous computing systems.
Research Activities of 1999 and Earlier
See the former
Darmstadt University research pages
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