ABSTRACT

Ambient intelligence (AmI) refers to a vision of the future information society where intelligent interfaces enable people and devices to interact with each other and with the environment.2 Technology operates in the background while computing capabilities are everywhere, connected and always available. This intelligent environment is aware of the specific characteristics of human presence and preferences, takes care of needs and is capable of responding intelligently to spoken or gestured indications of desire. It can even engage in intelligent dialogue. AmI is all about ‘human-centred computing’, user-friendliness, user empowerment and the support of human interaction (ISTAG, 2001; Aarts et al., 2002).