Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing (Voices That Matter)

Ubiquitous computing can mean different things to different people, especially without a concise yet comprehensive description. The book contains a series of statements which I feel helps to define or characterize what ubiquitous computing is about and some of its unique features. I found the book helpful in explaining ideas at a non-technical level without being too abstract. Lastly, "everyware" is a really good word that I think does capture the idea of ubiquitous computing well. Instead of people going to the computer to get things done, the computer has come out to where things are done.

The development of everyware (ubiquitous computing, calm technology, pervasive comptuting) poses some interesting questions. However, after I got past the introductory sections, my interest waned. The book is not technical; I was not looking for that. The book is not creative; I was looking for that. "Thesis 11: Everyware appears not merely in more places than personal computing does, but in more different kinds of places, at a greater variety of scales." That doesn't sound very ground-breaking. But let's see what he says about it. The old places were "coffee houses, transit lounges, airliner seats, hotel rooms, airport concourses". Then he says "How do you begin to discuss the "place" of computing that subsumes all of the above situations, but also invests processing power in refrigerators, elevators, closets, toilets, pens, tollbooths, eyeglasses, utility conduits, pets, sneakers, subway turnstiles, handbags, HvAC equipment, coffee mugs, credit cards, and many other things?" That's it. That's the end of Thesis 11. And all the quotes and references to the 80s and 90s. I thought I was going to hear about new stuff. Although, if you want to go down memory lane, he's your man. He can reminisce even further back, like to the "fondly and much-beloved Archigram projects of the 1960s". A couple of reviews mentioned how wonderful a speaker Greenfield was. I can see how he has lots of information to draw from. The writing, however, seems to be that of a rambling history professor. There was too much name dropping and product dropping for me. For sci-fi enthusiasts there's William Gibson, Phillip Dick, Steven Spielberg. Ah, and the Don Norman references; take heart, he eases off on those mid way through the book. He'll be off to another name in the next paragraph, so you won't learn much about them. On the other hand, I guess that could be a starting point for those who wanted to learn more. I was looking for some psychological or sociological insight, but didn't find it. "Thesis 18: In many circumstances, we can't really conceive of the human being engaging everyware as a "user". Okay, here we go, potential to get some insight here. What do we get - The word "user" is not very good. So how about "subject"? No that's no good either. End of thesis 18. From the simple "Thesis 24: Everyware, or something very much like it, is effectively inevitable." to the abstract "Thesis 40: The discourse of seamlessness effaces or elides meaningful distinctions between systems." There is something here for everyone. It might just take you awhile to find it.

Seriously, I just can't seem to keep reading it because I have to stop and think. And think. And daydream. And read a passage over again, and dream a little more. Ever read a book that gets you so excited you have to put it down just to shake off the energy that builds inside you? Well, this one does it for me. Greenfield is not just able to capture a vision for a world ahead with ubiquitous computing, but to explain in a completely non-jargon, tangible, virtually poetic way. I think the world really needed a book like this -- to establish a way of thinking about a new, invisible digital age that doesn't get lost amidst big-brother paranoia, or overly-detailed technical specs. Let's face it -- we don't know how it's all going to work together, how we'll get to a world of everware. But it's quite clear we will, and Greenfield spells out the promise and the issues with elegance and clarity. I had bought it awhile back from Amazon, and it sat there in my orders list (I'd actually never preordered before), finally to arrive and exceed every possible expectation. It's really quite magical. Too bad it's not hardcover, I'll beat this book to a pulp carrying it everywhere with me, tasting the delicious ideas little by little. I'll carry with me until at least half of the vision comes true.

Great read. I bought the book out of pure interest and was amazed to find so many insightful words on the evolution of computing. If your interested in the future of the computing market, I'd highly recommend this book

It may have been a visionary book in 2006; but such insight has a very short half-life. Some of the things said are commonplace, others still far away, perhaps luckily so. Disturbing is the naive view espoused by the author that it is necessarily a good think that everything will be connected. In the age of COVID madness, where I am located I have to check into every building with government controlled and systematically processed QR code technology, and my vaccination status certificate is my entry into being treated like a human being (sort of) rather than a head of cattle. It's amazing that Greenfield did not see some of this (in some shape of form, not of course the COVID variety) coming, and did not assess it critically.

Love the book, it's in great condition and it finally arived today !!! I love it ! Would buy again

everything was perfect, on time and in really good conditions. What I liked the most was the information from where it was taken and the social impact they made by supporting books life

This book is nicely done but is ageing slightly. If you know anything about ubicomp or internet of things, won't tell you anything you don't know.

A great read if you are interested in the non technicals for the web of things. Good ideas and well written

Great book