Relatively new research fields such as ambient intelligence, intelligent environments,
ubiquitous computing, and wearable devices have emerged in recent years.
These fields are related by a common theme: making use of novel technologies
to enhance user experience by providing user-centric intelligent environments, removing
computers from the desktop and making computing available anywhere and
anytime. It must be said that the concept of intelligent environments is not new and
began with home automation. The choice of name for the field varies somewhat from
continent to continent in the English-speaking world. In general intelligent space is
synonymous to intelligent environments or smart spaces of which smart homes is
a subfield. In this collection, the terms intelligent environments and ambient intelligence
are used interchangeably throughout. Such environments are made possible
by permeating living spaces with intelligent technology that enhances quality of
life. In particular, advances in technologies such as miniaturized sensors, advances
in communication and networking technology including high-bandwidth wireless
devices and the reduction in power consumption have made possible the concept of
intelligent environments. Environments such as a home, an office, a shopping mall,
and a travel port utilize data provided by users to adapt the environment to meet
the user’s needs and improve human-machine interactions. The user information
is gathered either via wearable devices or by pervasive sensors or a combination
of both. Intelligent environments brings together a number of research fields from
computer science, such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning,
and robotics as well as engineering and architecture. Other fields such as humancomputer
interaction and sociology deal with the human aspect of the problems.