Project Overview

1
Project Overview

• Wireless Extensions to the Knowledge Workplace
• Ian Barry

2
Project Goal

• To provide mechanisms whereby mobile knowledge
  workers may operate more effectively within the
  office environment.

3
Mobile Knowledge Work

• Knowledge work is the intellectual activity that
  is performed by people on data
• Mobile knowledge work is knowledge work whilst
  mobile.

4
Operating More Effectively

• Overcome disadvantages of being mobile.
• Enable dead time between tasks.
• Allow connectivity while away from the desk.

5
Office Environment

• The office environment is the most common
  location for the mobile knowledge worker.
• Mobile user carries mobile phone and/or handheld
  computer.

6
What is the project?

• Suite of applications that implement the project
  objective.
• Handheld vs. Web Signs interaction over infrared.

Infrared
7
IR Synchroniser

• Allow handheld users to get connected at any
  time.
• Synchronise new email, appointments
• get news, stock quotes, etc.
• Quick, easy and widely-supported.

8
IR Room Booker

• Beam calendar entries from handheld to book
  meetings on the Web Signs reservation management
  system.
• Straightforward method is a lot easier than
  standard web site forms.

9
Technical Feedback

• Feedback to the mobile user while interacting
  with Web Signs.
• No software on the handheld.
• Two visual solutions.

10
Feedback Method One

• Directly splat feedback to video card.
• Relies on Linux frame-buffer system.
• Static feedback messages only.

11
Feedback Method Two

• Use Mozilla to display feedback web page.
• Requires Mozilla rewrite and remote control.
• Allows dynamic feedback.

12
The Situation

• Saleable and compellingly demonstrable suite of
  three applications.
• Proof of concept for next generation of
  wireless-enabling applications.

13
The Demonstration

• First IR Room Booker can take room bookings over
  infrared from any vCalendar compatible handheld
  device.
• Second IR Synchroniser will allow any handheld
  device to connect to the internet and hence pick
  up new email, appointments, news, etc.