What is UMI

What the term UMI means?

The term “UMI” is an acronym for the fields of Ubiquitous computing, Mobile computing, and Internet of Things. Specifically, UMI refers to the merging of these three technologies in an attempt to create a single and pervasive computing paradigm.

Ubiquitous Computing is a concept in software engineering and computer science where computing is made to appear anytime and everywhere. In contrast to desktop computing, ubiquitous computing can occur using any device, in any location, and in any format (see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquitous_computing).

Mobile computing is human–computer interaction by which a device is expected to be transported during normal usage, which allows for transmission of data, voice and video. Mobile computing involves mobile communication, mobile hardware and mobile software (see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_computing).

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and connectivity which enables these objects to connect and exchange data and offer services with or without human intervention (see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things).

These three technologies, collectively called "UMI technologies", are becoming more and more prominent in our everyday life and affect almost all of our everyday activities in ways that are obvious or hidden, intelligent or irritating.

 

Origin and goal of UMI

Each of ubiquitous computing, mobile computing and the internet of things (IoT) actually has a history of its own, but the recent trend is to blend and unify them into a single technology that pervades our everyday life.

There is an increasing number of electronic devices with which we can interact every day, from high-end systems such as smartphones and TVs, to tiny micro-controllers embedded in many appliances, such as washing machines and thermostats, but also in wearable devices, such as wrist bands and smart watches.

Most of these devices (which, in the IoT vision, take the name of “things”) have sensors and/or actuators, are always on, and can communicate with the rest of the world. This enables the possibility to perform computations and exchange data in almost all environments. In summary, computing things are really becoming ubiquitous.

At the same time, personal computing has long moved to the mobile sphere, thanks first to laptops and more recently to smartphones, tablets, and 2-in-1 PCs, which combines the features of tablets and laptop computers. These devices allow more and more possibilities of interaction while on the move, thanks also to the increasing availability of wide radio bandwidth through cellular and large scale Wi-Fi networks. In addition, the majority of them is provided with short-range radio communication technologies, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, that allows connecting to the things spread in the environment.

It is therefore easy to see how the boundaries between IoT, ubiquitous and mobile computing are progressively vanishing, even more so as the technologies of communications and computation improve and are embedded in objects of everyday usage.

 

What does UMIque means?

UMIque means that a person is capable to exploit UMI technologies.

 

How can I be UMIque?

By exploring UMI technologies from school years! UMI technologies are so modern and powerful that can be both an educational means and end, thus fostering innovation and supporting promising scientific careers.

But how ready are you to accept and adopt UMI technologies? To what extent can our society exploit them to meet real needs? How will our educational structures create the required UMIque staff potention?

The UMI-Sci-Ed project (http://umi-sci-ed.eu/) aims at enhancing the attractiveness of STEM education and careers for young people (14-16 years old) with the use of UMI technologies. At the same time, it aims to increase the attractiveness of pursuing a career in domains pervaded by UMI for these youths, and to foster professional development of teachers.