Pervasive Computing

The name “pervasive computing” is derived from the idea that networked computing devices will become ubiquitous and will pervade the fabric of society. New computing paradigms and programming models will certainly be needed to cope with, and exploit, these technologies. BRL researchers have been engaged in research and development in embedded systems since the mid 1980s. That research was commercialized by Object Technology International Inc., and became the foundation for IBM’s family of embedded Java products.

Our pervasive computing research program focuses on the development of new computing platforms, which will be characterized by such properties as distribution, scalability, openness, dynamic adaptation and mobility. We envisage that pervasive software will be assembled from encapsulated components, which are distributed over the network, and which collaborate to accomplish required tasks. Today’s monolithic software stacks are too large, unwieldy and inflexible to serve as the basis for tomorrow’s pervasive computing applications. Most were designed for desktops and/or servers, and then scaled down to embedded devices; they are severely limited by this heritage. We are working with partners to investigate alternative, lighter weight computing platforms which will be more amenable to dynamically assembling applications from distributed components.