Friedemann Mattern Wireless Future: Ubiquitous Computing. Proceedings of 
Wireless Congress 2004, Munich, Germany, November 2004 

Abstract 

Over the last 30 years, we have seen the power of microprocessors double 
about every 18 months. An equally rapid increase applies to some other 
technological parameters such as storage capacity and communications 
bandwidth. This continuing trend means that computers will become considerably 
smaller, cheaper, and more abundant they are becoming ubiquitous, and are even 
finding their way into everyday objects. This is resulting in the creation of 
smart things that can access the Internet and its varied resources, and maybe 
even cooperate with each other. Mobile phones are a forerunner in this 
technological field - they are now true computers equipped with a whole range 
of functionality and may well develop into control centers for a multitude of 
other personal auxiliary services. 

In the long term, ubiquitous computing will take on great economic 
significance. Industrial products will become smart due to their integrated 
information processing capacity, or take on an electronic identity that can be 
remotely queried, or be equipped with sensors for detecting their environment, 
enabling innovative products and totally new services to be developed. 
However, an informatized world full of objects that can detect aspects of 
their environment and communicate with each other also has serious societal 
implications. The social and political challenges of the ubiquitous computing 
era will be characterized by an increasing dependence on technology, control 
over the information to which everyday objects are linked, and the protection 
of privacy.