The design and implementation of context-aware services

The STONE (service synthesizer on the net) project at the University of Tokyo which started in 1999 explores new possibilities for users accomplishing their tasks seamlessly and ubiquitously. The project focuses on the development of context-aware services in which applications are able to change their functionality depending on dynamically changing user context. The work of the project is structured around three basic themes: network middleware (that connects objects seamlessly to provide flexible services), devices (locating systems and sensors that tell us about context, and human interaction systems), and STONE room (testbed room for testing and demonstrating several application prototypes).