Delineating the Degree of ´Pervasiveness´ in Pervasive Information Systems: An Assessment Framework and Design Implications

Pervasive information systems exemplify a paradigm where information technology is embedded in the physical environment, capable of accommodating user needs and wants when desired. Pervasive IS differ from IS that are based on the desktop paradigm in that they encompass a complex, dynamic setting composed of multiple artefacts, capable of perceiving contextual information, diffused in the physical space and supporting ubiquitous interaction with the system resources. Building on the novel properties of pervasive IS, we propose a framework that can be used to assess the level of ´pervasiveness´ of any IS instance. Furthermore, we discuss how this framework may be employed to influence the design of pervasive IS.