User recognition and memory support in a pervasive system

Besides providing users with the ability to manage the increasingly complex environment of devices and services in which they find themselves, pervasive systems can also offer new functionality. One example of this is the identification of other users when they are nearby. This extends beyond simple identification to various forms of memory support and provides opportunities for a range of new and innovative applications that will support users and enhance their experience. This is a natural part of pervasive systems developed using the notion of Personal Smart Spaces (PSSs). This approach has been implemented in a prototype pervasive system developed by the Persist project. This paper describes this notion in detail and explains how this functionality has been achieved using it.