As computing devices become ubiquitous in our everyday environments, the demand for domain specific applications is radically increasing. This project addresses the significant challenges surrounding communication and coordination for such pervasive computing deployments. The goal of this research is to investigate the feasibility of applying an application-centered research agenda to the task of creating programming support for pervasive computing applications. The research uses designated pervasive computing applications to drive the research agenda, dictating the coordination and communication requirements at lower levels. Within the scope of supporting pervasive computing, the project is developing (1) new programming constructs that enable developers to programmatically specify complex desired behaviors, (2) context measurement and abstraction to enable both adaptive applications and communication protocols and (3) a novel communication substrate for connecting pervasive resources to the dynamic network participants that interact with them. The results of the project will enable domain programmers to create applications tailored for their specific environments while reducing the level of complexity these programmers must manage. The research results will be evaluated through the use of extensive case study deployments using interactions with researchers and practitioners in targeted domains. The application-centered focus of the project brings visibility to pervasive computing concerns, allowing students at all levels as well as the broader community to become exposed to pervasive computing and its potential within everyday applications.
