How do you define `active spaces'?
Its basically about instrumenting an environment with computers and creating an information space around you and whatever you do. If a recorded voice for instance could intimate you about the status of your mail box as soon as you walk into your house, it is an active environment. Another instance of an enveloping environment could be one where sensors track the movements of elderly people in their houses and can alert the concerned authorities the moment there is a change in the footfall are just small examples indicative of an `active space'. In fact the sensors for the elderly could also help detect early signs of degenerative diseases like Alzheimers, the possibilities are immense.

How will technology have to change to create this environment?
A number of assumptions will have to change - we have to stop looking at the computer as a commodity and its value has to change from dollars to cents, then people can afford to use computers in a number of situations. The ratio of users to computers has to go up to 1:1000, only then will active spaces become a reality. With small computers that possess a reasonable amount of power you can create these environments. With such devices, personal computers lose the focus of attention. The users view of the computational environment is extended beyond the physical limits of a computer and is placed into the surrounding physical space.

How will hardware and software have to change to keep this vision in view?
Upto now, the effort has been to to make specialized disconnected machines but now people are working out various ways to get these to talk to one another. The real challenge is in getting people to build the infrastructure/devices that can be plugged in. People still seem to want to stick to making proprietary devices. Building the software for active spaces is another challenge.

What do you think will drive down the prices of computers to the extent that the ratio of user to computer reaches 1:1000?
I think one driver which will bring about penetration of devices today is the entertainment industry. This sector does huge volumes of sales as far as devices with some amount of computing power go. Consider the number of teenagers who possess MP3. This device has computing power. There is no reason why this power cannot be extended to other functions. In fact, while on the subject of devices, there are wrist watches today that can operate MS DOS. Micro processors get cheaper with the rise in demand which is why volumes are key for the penetration of these devices. There is also a lot of value to be attached to authentication devices while talking of volumes, this is another area where demand is likely to pick up.

Which sectors are likely to display a demand for an `active environment' first?
I think health is one area where demand will pick up soon since it calls for monitoring which is one area where the active space is most useful. Imagine a device implanted in the body of a diabetic to constantly monitor the blood stream and provide the right indications. The device could also generate the appropriate medicine. Consumers are also willing to pay more in the health sector, besides these devices are likely to find acceptance the moment they prove their cost effectiveness, over a period of time.

What sort of initiatives are you seeing in industry to usher in the era of active spaces?
There are several ongoing projects in industry - Sun has implemented Jini to allow connection of multiple devices and they are targeting mostly the home space with this. Microsoft has initiated a project called Easy Living which is targeted at the home segment again. HP has a project called Cooltown which basically involves installation of `beacons' which serve as transmitters between devices.