Abstract
Ubiquitous computing and pervasive technology represent enabling technologies which have conditioned the evolution of the current Information Society. These ICT are transforming society and particularly changing the interfacing methods between services and user as well as their expectations from services. Such changes are related to arising of new kind of pervasive and sensitive service such as new healthcare and well-being personalized services. In this article such kind of services are defined in a comprehensive manner. This sense, sensitive services refers to new IS services that manage data that is not only based on the physical disposition of the user in regards to the environment but also related to more personal aspects. On its part, pervasive services are those developed by using pervasive technology and therefore can be defined as a delocalized and persistent ICT service. These definitions will be supported by an analysis of the evolution of services of the Information Society both from a socio-economic and industrial focus.
TopBackground
The IS refers to the social model in which the means of wealth generation are based on the production, management and transmission of information (Sarell & Machlup, 1963). In the IS, information and knowledge are established as the main economic engine, giving greater importance to services over production and products. Information and knowledge technologies (ICT) are an essential tool for the development of IS services. Their main objectives are the generation of knowledge and the exchange of information, through its encapsulation in the form of services to ensure its efficiency and accessibility to the citizen.
The services deployed in this society have undergone a continuous evolution to adapt to the needs of society and the specific characteristics of the technology used for its development. The incidence of these services in the IS goes beyond the technical field, and its evolution has been influenced, not only by the technology used in its development, but also by the socio-economic factors related to new forms of communication and global coexistence.
In (Achrol & Kotler, 2014) services are defined as the application of specialized competence by an entity through actions, processes and activities for the benefit of another entity or the own. This concept, in the context of the IS, refers to any set of features provided at a distance, electronically and by individual request from the recipient of the service (Directive 98/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council). To achieve this, ICTs are used as a means of developing the transmission, processing, and storage of the data associated with it.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Pervasive Service: A delocalized and persistent ICT service that allows its users to access the functionalities it offers at any time or place.
Sensitive Service: An ICT service which as combination of its functionalities significantly affect its users' quality of life, manages information that is considered private by its users, involves the psychological responses of its users and are present in the users' personal spaces.
Ubiquitous Computing: The third computing paradigm where the person relates physically with a large number of computers without temporal or spatial restrictions.
Interaction Design: An interdisciplinary vision that is fundamental to all disciplines, fields, or study and development approaches whose objective is to create systems based on computing technology for individuals such as Human-Computer Interaction, Ergonomics, Human Factors, Cognitive Engineering, Psychology or Design.
Pervasive Technology: Potentially ideal environment, due to its characteristics, to support Ubiquitous Computing which fundamental characteristics are resilience and persistence.
Technological Acceptance: Degree of adoption and use by the user of goods or services as the practical application of knowledge, whose objective is to satisfy a need or want of society.