Ambient Intelligence, Smart Objects and Sensor Networks: Practical Experiences

The recent advances in microelectronics and related fields have made the dream of intelligent spaces and objects come true. Reduction of technology costs, power consumption and form factor is enabling to exploit increased processing capabilities of sensor nodes and to distribute the intelligence in the environment. In this paper, significant examples of on-going research on smart environments, sensorized tangible interfaces applied to smart spaces and assistive technologies are presented. Each of these examples outlines some of the AmI challenges, such as, in particular, space awareness, smart space flexibility to include new smart entities and natural interfaces.