Novel Development Method for Applications Integrating GUI and Devices on Ubicomp

Abstract

Many research projects and applications for ubiquitous computing have appeared recently. These systems require not only various special devices (e.g., sensors and actuators), but also displays and GUI (Graphical User Interface) just like desktop environment in many cases. In these situations, users often have difficulties to develop applications since classical GUI components and GUI design tools on IDEs (Integrated Development Environment) do not support various I/O devices other than keyboards and mice, and the development process tends to be complex. We propose a novel development method for ubicomp applications through our practical experiences. The main feature of our method is reducing dependences of GUI and devices using middleware called “device server”. Our approach can promote efficiency of “parallel” implementation of GUI and devices. In this paper, we introduce practical techniques for developing ubicomp applications including toolkits, frameworks, know-hows, and challenges.