Context awareness

Context-awareness (English context awareness, also context-dependence ) designates the behavior of application programs, the information about their "context", ie use their environment to coordinate their behavior accordingly.

The basis on which these systems operate, is information, which are provided by a wide variety of sources or sensors. Using this information, conclusions are drawn about the context. The determined context is used by the application to adapt their behavior, especially the behavior of the user interface. Context is eg defined as " [ ... ] any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity. " The use of context information is most commonly associated with the temporal and spatial aspect of people. However, any other aspects can be addressed in a context model when appropriate sources or sensors exist to it. This can be, for example archive data or vital signs of persons, the temperature in an environment or the relationships between people.

The aim in developing context- aware applications is to achieve a higher value than with conventional applications.

Subtypes

Are defined as subtypes of context sensitivity

  • Change Awareness, awareness of changes in the data set; see, eg, Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Collaboration Awareness, awareness of the purpose of use " application for group work "; see, eg, Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Gaze Awareness, awareness of the direction of view of the user; see, eg, Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Location Awareness ( spatial dependence ), awareness of the location; see, eg, Location-based services
  • Security Awareness, consciousness or sensibility of IT users for concerns of information security

For context modeling in developing web-based systems, a subdivision in the context of categories & user role, object, place, time and device has been proposed as appropriate.

Types of context-sensitive systems

A context sensitive system can use context information in multiple ways. Context information can be used as a trigger for system functions, such as triggering an alarm when exceeding the permissible Vital Signs. Furthermore, context information can be used to enrich documents or other resources with background information. For example, images can be automatically provided with a time and location stamp. Furthermore, context information about parameterization of functions can be used. Thus, for the context model all individuals determine which are located in the same room. This information can be used to realize a space -based mail distribution. Ultimately, context information can be visualized by the system and provided to the user for information purposes only.

Existing Systems

Currently available systems focus on the local aspect and realize location-based services. On the basis of position sensors, e.g., GPS or cell localization of mobile devices are here Services or information provided which are useful in the user's area. Location based services (LBS ), however, are only a special case. More complex context-dependent systems currently exist only in the research laboratories of the relevant universities and institutes.

Video and computer games

Context-awareness comes in games everywhere for applications where little keys are available, such as with computer mice, and joysticks gamepad. So some key functions are only active when the action of the situation is appropriately used. For example, the action of the response of non-player characters through the character appears only if it is located nearby. The actions to be executed are thereby usually displayed on the screen.

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