In pervasive computing environments, integrating the numerous available pervasive devices (and selecting the appropriate technologies for a particular application) will be prerequisite in order to meet user needs. Also, effective pervasive computing will present user interfaces distributed across numerous, small, portable, and embedded devices. While many companies are developing stand-alone products for use in these smart environments, a real challenge lies in integrating these products from different vendors into a single, functional, pervasive environment, which will meet the requirements of groups of users for a particular application. Technical staff in NISTís Smart Space Laboratory have developed the NIST Smart Flow system - data flow integration software that allows devices and systems from different companies to work together in a single environment. In order to keep pace with the emerging number and types of pervasive computing devices, and to encourage development of smart spaces which meet user demands, there is need to further expand the capabilities of the NIST Smart Flow by integrating additional types of devices into smart spaces and accessible environments for future applications.

The goal of this effort is to investigate and develop an approach to integrating a set of pervasive computing devices into a single system which will make offices, meeting rooms, medical examination rooms, or other smart environments of the future more accessible and productive. This proposal requests demonstrations of innovative combinations of pervasive devices and advanced spoken and visual interfaces (provided by several commercial vendors) which can be integrated into a smart environment using the NIST Smart Flow system. The integrated devices should be selected to focus on technology needs of a realistic, future application area, such as:

An accessible smart room, which integrates assistive information technology and allows alternative access methods, which may include wireless access and hands-free user interfaces;

A meeting room of the future which provides access to a number of information technologies needed to support a typical meeting, such as transcription, Internet access, search and retrieval of multimedia information, document sharing, video recording, speech and speaker recognition;

An advanced medical examination room to support proper access to information systems by a physician - such as speech and speaker recognition to access patient files, dictate examination notes, request tests, or to establish communication for a consultation - for improved and efficient healthcare.

Proposals submitted under this subtopic may address access to NIST facilities and staff.

Reference: www.nist.gov/smartspace