Ambient Intelligence with Microsystems

Augmented Materials and Smart Objects investigates the co-design approach to developing networkable smart objects for Ambient Intelligence with specific emphasis upon the implementation of the microsystems and nanoscale devices required to achieve effective smart systems. More specifically, it reviews the current ongoing research on embedding computing technology effectively into everyday objects used in our daily lives and in particular the role that microsystems and nanoscale devices have in these programs.

The book investigates the issues required to ensure technology platforms capable of being seamlessly integrated into everyday objects, particularly the requirements for integrated computation and MEMs sensors, System-in-a-package solutions, multi-chip modules, the impact of the trend towards embedded microelectronic electronics sub-systems, novel assembly techniques for autonomous MEMs sensors, as well as practical performance issues that are key to the AmI concept.

Also discussed are current requirements for realizing applications-oriented examples of smart objects (e.g. smart textiles, gadgets, integration of smart systems for utility and environmental monitoring, etc); these are based upon heterogeneous systems linking networks of sensors attached to (or physically embedded in) objects with information management systems enabling collections of smart objects to collaborate to provide proactive services to the user.

Finally, Augmented Materials and Smart Objects describes and discusses a number of vision statements strongly relevant to the future development of distributed embedded sensor and actuator platforms for smart objects, and ultimately Ambient Intelligence. The framework for this is the concept of Augmented Materials; these are materials with fully embedded distributed information systems, designed to measure all relevant physical properties and provide a full knowledge representation of the material; in effect, the material would "know" itself, and its current status.