Mobi.Ubiq is developing and promoting open source object-based services on mobile phones. We provide mobile client software and a service directory for real-world object browsing. This enables connecting everyday objects with content and services. In our vision a mobile phone will be a bridge between the user and an 'Internet of Things' environment.

The term 'ubiquitous computing' was first used by Mark Weiser in 1991. In his vision ubiquitous computing is a new paradigm of human computer interaction as opposed to ‘normal’ desktop interaction. With ubiquitous computing information processing will be integrated into our everyday activities and objects. Objects are becoming connected and localized; a network for distributed information processing emerges. As Weiser put it: “The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”

Mobile Technology

Mobile technology in combination with location-based (GPS) and object-based (NFC) information is making this vision a reality. New technology enables and facilitates access to services, and in this way extends our possibilities, based on where we are, who we are and the objects that are surrounding us. With these context-aware services we can intuitively access information from anything anywhere and add information to everything and to every location. This creates a vast variety of new opportunities and applications.

Our Mission

Currently substantial development takes place in location-based and object-based services. Because these are mostly closed isolated services, lacking the possibility of distributed information processing, this will not lead to a more ubiquitous computing environment. What is missing to make the vision of ubiquitous computing a reality, is a framework on which services can be built, connected, combined and attached to tags. In such an infrastructure it is not the object that determines the service, but the agent that interrogates the object.

Mobi.Ubiq is contributing to an open context-aware architecture by:

• Providing an open source, open standard framework for administering and combining context-aware services;
• Providing a Service Directory for service discovery of context-aware services;
• Providing open source mobile client software for reading NDEF tags, 1D and 2D barcodes and accessing services;