.: International Journal of Advanced Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (IJAPUC)

The pervasive computing era has many challenges and opportunities for Information Systems.  I hope that many of the research in the Information Systems pervasive computing area will be reported in IJAPUC.  I have taken on the role of Editor-in-Chief.  If you are interested in contributing, please send me a manuscript for consideration.  If it is not up to journal standard, but has potential, I promise to work with you to achieve a publication.  See the Call for Papers here.  There is also a site at IGI.

.: A Personal Device to Augment Goal Management Training

Work is underway to explore the feasibility of using a personal device and RFID tags to step through a goal oriented task.  I am collaborating with researchers from AUT Rehabilitation Institute.  More information is provided on this separate page.

.: Data at source

I currently have two projects underway investigating storing data on PDAs and sensor devices until such time as it is needed.   Personal pervasive systems tend to upload personal data to a central database.  In the business environment, expensive middleware architecture makes investment in RFID too costly for a ROI.  I don't have a problem with EPC tags on merchandise in my home and I also don't mind interactive advertising billboards that can sense me approaching, find out what interests me and personalise their message (provided I can turn it off) (my colleagues already have a working prototype for this BTW).  I don't mind having a RFID tag embedded in my passport and the use of RFID to airline tickets to track passengers is Ok too.  What I would not submit to is a toilet that takes daily urine samples and uploads this detail to central health records, any system that tracks my movements in a central database.  Clearly, in ubiquitous computing environments, there needs to be some separation of personal information and system information.  Current database models, schema and data manipulation tools don't deal with this well.  I am exploring what the limitations are and what the needs might be. 

The Assisted Living Project uses an RFID system to locate common objects around the home. The aim is to have a low infrastructure, low cost solution that does not interfere with life. We have the reader on the user (rather than the other way round) and we use a topological way for locating things (rather than a precise GPS location for example). 

Watch the Video (Care of YouTube).  See a demonstration of the Assisted Living system used to identify the clothes worn by our bear Duncan and demonstration of full use of the Assisted Living object location system.

.: RFID Pathfinder

I am a member of the National Committee of the NZ RFID Pathfinder.  After 5s presentations are held monthly in Auckland.  For information see the website at NZ RFID Pathfinder.

.: Conference Reports

I have recently presented papers at ACIS08 & GMR08.  I have prepared a conference report for each as well as the slides for my presentation.

ACIS08 Conference Report    ACIS08 Slides   GMR08 Conference Report    GMR08 Slides   GMR Audio of Presentation (35mins)

Thanks to Dr Joseph Mula of USQ who encouraged me to 'put the audio' up.

.: Resources

The uCommerce/RFID research now has a separate page.

I recently attended a workshop of writing research grants.  Here is my Steps to Success plan taken from the workshop.

The best books that I have read recently are:

Everyware by Adam Greenfield & Shaping Things by Bruce Sterling

Blue Nowhere by Jeffrey Deaver - a work of fiction about cyber stalking. 

.: Recent Publications

Symonds JA & Parry D (2008) "Using RFID to Track and Trace High Value Products:  The Case of City Healthcare", Journal of Cases on Information Technology 10(1) pp1-13.

Symonds JA & Connor A (Forthcoming) "Usability Evaluation meets design:  The case of bisco Office"  in Eds Cater-Steel A. P. & Al Hakim L. Information Systems Research:  Public and Private Sector Applications, Hershey: Idea Group.

Symonds, J. A. (2007, Dec), Book Review: "Shaping Things". Bulletin of Applied Computing and Information Technology Vol. 5, Issue 2. ISSN 1176-4120. Retrieved February 9, 2008 from http://www.naccq.co.nz/bacit/0502/2007Symonds_ReviewShaping.htm

.: Students

PhD:

Farai Mbira:- Location Based Service requirements of tourists to Waiheke island.

MCIS:

Brice Zhang:- The role of advocacy groups in Innovation Adoption

Sarita Pais:-  Data-on-tag RFID development