Controlling multiple devices

Two major differences between ubiquitous computing and a traditional desktop scenario consist of the number of users interacting simultaneously with a system, and the number of devices that they use. This paper focuses on the physical user interfaces problem of how device control is allocated, shared, and released by services and users. Based on a classification of different types of devices, we analyze in which ways a device can be controlled. We then identify several influencing factors in allocating devices, and conclude by sketching out a high-level strategy for the (semi) automatic handling of device allocation.