Intelligent Buildings and Pervasive Computing

Technological advances on a broad front have made the miniaturisation of computers and intelligent devices possible. Microprocessors and the VLSI chips that are the intelligent heart of any computing device have become cheaper, more powerful, compact and energy efficient. Microprocessors are capable of operating on a larger number of bytes and have found application in diverse areas such as the automobile, building control systems, battery powered intelligent stand alone systems, mobile devices and intelligent appliances. The marriage of communications technologies and computing have made it possible to communicate with intelligent machines over vast distances and it is possible to instruct a smart device, such as a heater or an air conditioner, at home to switch from a remote location. This essay takes a look at intelligent buildings in the pervasive computing age