Smart Things

The world of smart shoes, appliances, and phones is already here, but the practice of user experience (UX) design for ubiquitous computing is still relatively new. Design companies like IDEO and frogdesign are regularly asked to design products that unify software interaction, device design and service design -- which are all the key components of ubiquitous computing UX -- and practicing designers need a way to tackle practical challenges of design. Theory is not enough for them -- luckily the industry is now mature enough to have tried and tested best practices and case studies from the field. Smart Things presents a problem-solving approach to addressing designers' needs and concentrates on process, rather than technological detail, to keep from being quickly outdated. It pays close attention to the capabilities and limitations of the medium in question and discusses the tradeoffs and challenges of design in a commercial environment. Divided into two sections, frameworks and techniques, the book discusses broad design methods and case studies that reflect key aspects of these approaches. The book then presents a set of techniques highly valuable to a practicing designer. It is intentionally not a comprehensive tutorial of user-centered design'as that is covered in many other books'but it is a handful of techniques useful when designing ubiquitous computing user experiences. In short, Smart Things gives its readers both the "why" of this kind of design and the "how," in well-defined chunks. Tackles design of products in the post-Web world where computers no longer have to be monolithic, expensive general-purpose devices Features broad frameworks and processes, practical advice to help approach specifics, and techniques for the unique design challenges Presents case studies that describe, in detail, how others have solved problems, managed trade-offs, and met successes

This book provides a comprehensive overview for the use of femtocells in smart Internet of Things (IoT) environments. Femtocells will help mobile operators to provide a basis for the next generation of services which are a combination of voice, video, and data services to mobile users. This book discusses modelling traffic and deployment strategies in femtocells and provides a review for the use of femtocells and their applications in IoT environments. Moreover, it highlights the efficient real-time medium access, data delivery, caching and security aspects in smart spaces. It concludes by presenting open research issues associated with smart IoT-femtocell based applications.

The author of the recovery mainstay 12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery offers a fresh list of "smart" things to do to attain and sustain emotional sobriety. The author of the recovery mainstay 12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery offers a fresh list of "smart" things to do to attain and sustain emotional sobriety. Whether it's called "dry drunk" or "white knuckle sobriety," it's that stage in recovery when we realize that "putting the plug in the jug" isn't enough. The next step is taking responsibility for the emotional immaturity that fuels our addictive personality and has a tremendous impact on ourselves and others. Allen Berger, Ph.D., draws on the teachings of Bill W. and psychotherapy pioneers to offer twelve hallmarks of emotional sobriety that, when practiced, give people the confidence to be accountable for their behavior, ask for what they want and need, and grow and develop a deeper trust in the process of life. These smart things include:understanding who you are and what's important to youlearning not to take others' reactions personallytrusting your inner compasstaking responsibility for your reactions to problematic situationsIt is in these practices that we find release from what Bill W. described as an "absolute dependency" on people or circumstances, and develop the tools to find prestige, security, and belonging within.

Decision trees or backing a hunch - smart advice on the art and science of decision making.

The dramatic acceleration of digital technologies and their integration into physical products is transforming everyday objects. Our domestic appliances, furniture, clothing, are growing in intelligence. Smart objects are increasingly capable of interacting with humans in a purposeful manner with intentionality. This collection of essays, descriptions of empirical work, and design case studies brings together perspectives from interaction design, the humanities, science and technology studies, and engineering, to map, explore and interrogate ways in which our relationships with everyday smart objects might expand and be re-imagined. By offering a critical assessment on the growing place of smart technology in everyday environments, this book outlines a transdisciplinary research agenda for the future of 'smartness' to help define, envision, and inspire future collaborative design practices. These essays propose an understanding and design of smart objects that embrace their hybrid nature as shifting and blending tools, agents, machines, or even 'creatures'. Authors argue that smart objects have the potential to enter into multiple kinds of relationships with humans, and form complex human-nonhuman ecologies that are both meaningful and empowering in the context of everyday life. This book also shines a light on the hidden infrastructures behind the functioning of smart objects with stirring debates tackling questions of technology, human values, and economic and ecological impact. Whether you are a design scholar, design practitioner or design activist this book will inspire through offering theoretical insights, design concepts and practical ways on how to engage in this research agenda for future smartness.

We all know that the future is uncertain, but rather than make any attempt to actively manage our futures in a consistent way, we tend to make broadbrush assumptions based on common-sense and intuition alone. Successfully managing risk is a primary ingredient for success in a fast-paced environment where we are bombarded by the need to make critical decisions, often with little or no solid facts available and little insight into the likely outcomes. Smart Things to Know About Risk Management, in a step-by-step approach, shows the reader what is risk management and why it matters, the categories of risk, how to achieve the right balance of risk, knowing your risk appetite, how to actively manage your risks and develop a risk culture and techniques, tools and models for managing risk. Case studies are also included. * Perfect for the SMART treatment - this book starts from basics, assumes no prior knowledge and gives a step-by-step approach. * Step-by-step approach. Covers the background to risk and risk management as well as practical application and techniques, tools and models for managing risk. * Written by a highly experienced practitioner with a formidable working knowledge in this area.

Smart Business is the definitive primer for understanding why companies behave as they do, what the basics of sound business practice are and where the stakeholders fit in. There are a handful of fairly simple but key drivers behind the way businesses operate and James Leibert explains them. Smart Business will enable readers to fast track their business skills. Smart books are essential primers to the key issues facing business people. They are practical and action-oriented, providing instant knowledge for ambitious and hungry professionals who want to make a lasting impression throughout their career. Smart books are designed to give killer approaches to key business subjects, and deliver sound principles in a style that is both informative and has attitude. They are the prefect resource for time-starved, information-hungry business people everywhere!

The interconnectivity of appliances, everyday objects, and people to the Web is called the “Internet of Things.” Electric cars are being made smart and fast with software updates that are pushed to them wirelessly. Electrical outlets can be tuned off from anywhere in the world, and people can even track the amount of energy the plugs are using by looking at a cell phone. This insightful volume describes some of these intriguing state-of-the-art devices, including tracking devices to monitor endangered animals or help find lost pets and sensors in water treatment facilities that can help control a city’s water supply.