Ambient Intelligence & Information Interactions

Ambient Intelligence & Information Interactions Theorizing Autonomies & Awareness for 21st Century Society A Technology-People Balance

H. Patricia McKenna AmbientEase Victoria, Canada

Marilyn P. Arnone Michelle L. Kaarst-Brown Lee W. McKnight

Sarah A. Chauncey Benchmark Education New York, USA

Syracuse University Syracuse, USA

Abstract—The primary aim of this research study is to explore the social and human potential of technologies designed to support awareness and enable autonomy. The concepts of awareness and autonomy are reconceptualized for 21st century technology-pervasive environments. Using a case study approach, this study focuses on the use experience of faculty and students with an emerging and next generation technology. Multiple methods are employed for quantitative and qualitative data collection along with multiple data analysis techniques. This study makes several contributions to research and practice, including: the development of a conceptual framework for 21st century autonomies and awareness; an autonomies and awareness research agenda; a reframing of the intuition concept for 21st century technologies; proposed use of intuitive inquiry as a method for studying people-technology interactions; and a human-centered computing (HCC) approach in support of technology and people in balance, enabling more immediate engagement with social impact and social implications issues. More broadly, this paper provides a strategic and overarching perspective for building new systems within a research context for the 21st century.

Using a case study approach and multiple methods of data collection, the launch and first use experience with the WeJay social radio tool is explored from the perspective of users. Analysis of quantitative data is achieved through the use of descriptive statistics while content analysis is employed for qualitative data. During content analysis a deductive approach was used to gather emergent insights. An inductive approach was used in relation to the research literature, supporting the theoretical perspective and conceptual framework developed for the study. Using emergence theory, from a social and sociotechnical perspective, and the key constructs of creativity, innovation, and context awareness, a framework was established for the study of awareness and autonomy.

Keywords-Ambient intelligence; Autonomous agents; Context awareness; Distributed computing; Electronic learning; Emergent phenomena; Human computer interaction; Human factors; Intelligent Systems; Smart grids

1) Context: In establishing the context for this research, key terms are defined below. a) Ambient: "that which surrounds but does not distract" [1].

I.

INTRODUCTION

This paper focuses on the social implications of emerging forms of awareness and autonomy afforded by 21st century technology-pervasive environments. This study is unique as the first research to explore the use experiences of postsecondary faculty and students with the emergent and next generation technologies of ambient intelligence with wireless grids. The main aim of this paper is to explore the social and human potential of technologies designed to support awareness and enable autonomy for 21st century learning. Social implications are considered in terms of information interactions in relation to people, to systems, and to the interactive relationships between technologies and people. Intuition is revisited as a dimension of the awareness and autonomy characterizing emergent ambient information landscapes.

c 2013 IEEE 978-1-4799-0929-2/13/$31.00 

Providing context for this study, a series of definitions drawn from the research literature are provided. A. Definitions For the purposes of this research, key terms used in the study are defined based on the underlying research literature.

b) Ambient intelligence: one of several elucidations of ubiquitous computing [2] referring to, "the embedding and integrating, on a mass scale, of technologies that are sensitive and responsive to humans in everyday environments in increasingly invisible and unobtrusive ways" [3]. c) Autonomy: "concerns the experience of acting with a sense of choice, volition, and self-determination" [4]. d) Autonomous Systems: in the context of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Platts [5] interprets autonomy to constitute an optimized "partnership between the [human] operator and [the intelligent capability of] the system" at highly abstracted levels involving multiple vehicles." e) Awareness: in the context of learning, "The structure of an individual's awareness keeps changing all the time, and

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the totality of all experience is what we call that individual's awareness" [6].

the context of 21st century technology-pervasive environments may contribute new perspectives.

f) Awareness Systems: "are intended to help people construct and maintain similar levels of awareness of each others' activities, context, or status, even when the participants are not co-located" [7].

Autonomy is interpreted in relation to people [19] and increasingly, in relation to systems [20], [5], as in, autonomous systems. Types of autonomies are discussed below, followed by an articulation of Human-Centered Computing (HCC) in relation to autonomies. New forms of infrastructure are discussed in terms of vocabularies of awareness; and the importance of intuition is considered in relation to autonomy and awareness.

g) Human-Centered Computing (HCC): is concerned with: a) "personal, social, and cultural contexts"; b) "being a meeting place for disciplines" and; c) "radically changing computing with new methodologies to design and build systems that support and enrich people's lives" [8]. h) Intuition: Voltz, Rubsamen, and von Cramon, [9] acknowledge the 'multiple connotations' of intuition and point to the Oxford English Dictionary definition – "the ability to understand or know something immediately, without conscious reasoning." i) Wireless grids: refer to, "an emerging form of network for sharing resources, creating resources, facilitating connections across devices and enabling ad hoc interactions" [10]. Devices include smartphones, sensors, tablets, and the like. Wireless grids are, "A human centric open access gateway to shared resources for mobile and wireless electronic devices interconnecting at least one device to at least one other device or resource. A device can establish a grid and become a member of one or more wireless grids" [11]. This research initiates discussions around the use and interpretations for use of emerging and next generation technologies, possibly contributing insight into timely and pressing social issues associated with 21st century technologies [12], [13], [14], [15]. B. Background Concerns about the social implications of ambient intelligence and next generation technologies are not new. In 1998 a collection of articles appeared in 21st Century Technologies: Promises and Perils of a Dynamic Future [16]. In 2006 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Humans & Automation Lab held an interdisciplinary Symposium, intended "to raise awareness of human-centered technology design, research methods and practices" [17]. Other researchers [14] questioned the nature and quality of the information society afforded by ambient information technologies, in relation to a number of elements, including autonomy. As part of the veillances literature, Lyon [15] articulates the nature and extent of pervasive monitoring and social sorting as a culture of surveillance. Christakis [18] argues that big data and "the era of computational social science" can contribute to improvements for humanity, lending greater insight to the evolving and emergent nature of human behavior. With this background, a review of the autonomy and awareness research literature will now be provided. II.

THE AUTONOMY & AWARENESS LITERATURE

While the concepts of autonomy and awareness are not new, coming to an understanding of their use and meaning in

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A. Autonomies Considerations of autonomy often focus on the individual [19], extending also to the group [21]. In 21st century environments which are characterized by ambient and next generation technologies, the notion of autonomy may be associated with, and designed into, the system. As such, the need for greater understanding of autonomy arises in the technology-people relationship. 1) Autonomy for People In Doyal & Gough's [22] Theory of Human Needs (THN), autonomy is positioned to figure strongly. Ryan and Deci [21] employ Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in relation to learning and the three fundamental human needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy as factors influencing human well-being. In SDT, the concept of relative autonomy emerges in terms of degrees of autonomy related to the notion of: contexts and events; rationale for actions; and personal motivations. Muñiz Castillo argues for the importance of autonomy in relation to human development [19]. Muñiz Castillo [19] developed a conceptual model for autonomy using three determinants: entitlements; agency; and multi-level structural contexts. In summary, autonomy is important for well-being; a sense of well-being is important for learning; and autonomy and learning support the promotion of human development. Considering technology-pervasive learning environments, in an interview with Cherry [23], Vardi observes that, "we seem to be blindly developing the technology without worrying about the consequences" and urges more engagement in discussions about technology and the future. Vardi makes reference to the concept in contemporary conversation of, "creating technology that has no friction" as in, "creating many things that are just too easy to do." While Facebook and other social networking spaces may claim to be frictionless [24], Chauncey [25] argues for the importance of what she refers to as frictionless learning – "Frictionless learning environments provide optimal space, time, resources, and community interaction to support achievement of individual and group learning goals." 2) Autonomous Systems Platts [5] defines autonomy in the context of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as, "placing human needs at the center of the autonomous system." For Platts, autonomy is not automation but rather, pertains to the dimensions of: context, operator interaction, and intelligence (e.g., reasoning and knowledge in relation to the environment and associated uncertainty). Increased intelligence contributes to improved

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capability for dealing with uncertainty. Platts contends that the system needs to be able to: a) "convey its behavior and its intentions to the user"; and b) "allow human intervention at the appropriate level to effect control." Thinking futuristically, Coates [20] claimed that: "As things become smart through information technology, they will be able to do three things: evaluate their internal performance, evaluate their external performance, and, if either is not good, initiate repair or call for help." For Coates, "Ubiquitous smartness implies, as the next logical step, linking these smart things into systems for more effective and often remote management." Coates [20] points to six concepts concerned with risks, errors, and other issues pertaining to complexity and the like, to keep in mind when considering emerging and future technologies. Platts [5] refers to 'levels of autonomy' which can perhaps be equated with Doyal & Gough's [22] two-level notion of autonomy in the Theory of Human Needs (THN) and the 'degrees of autonomy' articulated in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) [21]. Muñiz Castillo's [19] determinants could be equated, respectively, with Platts's [5] dimensions of autonomy – intelligence; operator interaction; and context. Pfeifer, Lungarella, and Iida [26] refer to autonomous systems as "becoming more and more accepted as close interaction partners" in the form of mobile devices. Such devices, they believe, will lead to "the integration of autonomous systems into our daily lives" as in, the 'soft' robotics being developed in Japan and Korea to perform household tasks formerly done by humans. Departing from the 'partnerships' described by Platts [5] and Pfeifer et al. [26], Goth [27] describes autonomous systems used in software on Mars as: "without real time human direction" and "with no human in the loop." In this scenario, "Rovers can autonomously select, capture, and analyze images using onboard logic." B. Human-Centered Computing (HCC) Researchers describe HCC in terms of "infrastructure around a human activity" [28], [8]. An HCC research agenda was established in 2008 [29] for the National Science Foundation and organized more recently into the Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) [30] area, encompassing: HCC, Information Integration and Informatics (III), and Robust Intelligence (RI). Looking at The Extended AmI Model [3] in terms of an adherence to HCC by AmI technologies, it is worth noting various key terms employed. Inference, representation, and human-like, form part of the vocabulary used in the social intelligence dimensions of the AmI model. These terms are descriptive of the process and intent and are also revelatory of possible gaps and approximations of human activity. This vocabulary gives rise to questions pertaining to humancentered approaches to technology development. For example, is there a need for involving more of the human in the systems equation and is this possible, desirable, and likely to emerge going forward? Surie, Janlert, Pederson and Roy [31] propose the concept of egocentric interaction, focusing on "the human

agent's body and mind as [the] center of reference" departing from the "more common device-centric approaches in facilitating human-environment interaction." Surie et al. [31] point to a shift in terminology from 'user' to 'agent', where 'human agent' is employed in the egocentric interaction approach. This approach provides an understanding of interaction to be happening between an individual and any number of interactive devices, simultaneously. In this scenario, the individual is also interacting with the physical environment, resulting in the "individual as an agent in a mixed-reality environment." As such, Surie et al. argue for a "letting go of the application as the tacit focus" and claim that with egocentric interaction "only parts of the activity involve events that a computer system can or should care for." Conti et al. [32] refer to the convergence of a CyberPhysical World (CPW) with humans at the center. Conti et al. provide a glimpse of the opportunities and challenges presented by the CPW – a world featuring the flow of information "from the physical to the cyber world, and vice-versa, adapting the converged world to human behavior and social dynamics" [31]. A social dimension to the Cyber-Physical is evident in an upcoming conference, CPSCom 2013, the IEEE International Conference on Cyber, Physical and Social Computing. CPSCom 2013 [33] claims that all elements "are capable of interacting, reflecting and influencing each other" and as such, "will significantly change the way we see the world." Fundamental to the human-centric and human-centered computing (HCC) approach is the concern for whether there is sufficient human awareness and awareness of the human, in the emerging technology landscape of the 21st century. C. Awareness - New Vocabularies & Infrastructures Berne [34] relates awareness to autonomy, claiming that awareness pertains to aliveness. In an interview entitled Alive Enough: Reflecting on Our Technology with Sherry Turkle, [35] the "alive enough" phrase emerges from the words of a child in Turkle's discussion with children about technology. Metaxas & Markopoulos [36] offer a model for reflection in the awareness systems domain which describes a range of 'discrete awareness modes' including one arrangement consisting of: no mutual awareness; minimal asymmetrical awareness; minimal mutual awareness; and fully reciprocal mutual awareness. Context awareness forms part of the social intelligence dimensions of The Extended Ambient Model articulated by De Ruyter and Aarts [3]. Vocabularies of awareness emerge in the form of peripheral awareness [37] and social awareness described by Papacharissi [38] in ambient information sharing environments. Other types of awareness studied in relation to AmI; social media; and next generation technologies such as wireless grids, include: location awareness, resource awareness, situation awareness, presence awareness and smartness [12]. Surie et al. [31] advance the notion of ambient ecology as an infrastructure for AmI. Conti et al. [32] claim there is an emergence of "a new wave of (human) social networks and structures" which will serve "as important drivers for the

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development paradigms."

of

novel

communication

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experimental philosophy "opens a fertile field of inquiry into our commonsense or intuitive capacities" [45].

McCullough [1] uses the term "ambient commons" to address the concept of attention in an age of augmented realities and situated technologies. From the perspective of architecture and the built environment, McCullough points to the importance of having an awareness of the physical. For McCullough, it is as though there is a naturally occurring ambient layer that we take for granted, observing "that underneath all these augmentations and data flows, fixed forms persist, and that to notice them can improve other sensibilities."

Following on the thinking of other researchers, for the purposes of their investigations in the domain of neuroscience, Volz et al. [9] take as their definition of intuition, "the preliminary perception of coherence (pattern, meaning, structure) that is at first not consciously represented, but instead embodied in a 'gut feeling' or an initial guess that subsequently biases our thought and inquiry." Volz et al. refer to "intuition in everyday life" as "knowing something without knowing how you know it."

Harnessing the capabilities of emerging technologies and digital media, Rheingold [39] is working toward the development of "an informed and socially conscious form of mind-extension." Rheingold believes that it is important to understand "the human-computer symbiosis in which we've become enmeshed." To this end, Rheingold seeks to "provide a framework to guide our future use of machines-to-think-with", thus augmenting and amplifying our intelligence. There is perhaps an invisible ambient layer present here, in the form of the underlying environment of awareness made possible by embedded intelligence.

Hodgkinson, Langan-Fox and Sadler-Smith [46] regard intuition as a 'burgeoning field of inquiry', claim that the literature is 'conceptually underdeveloped' and spread across many domains (e.g., education, management, neuroscience), and set about to articulate the construct as distinct from other similar constructs such as insight and creativity. In this undertaking, Hodgkinson et al. attempt to establish intuition as a 'bridging construct' having a unifying effect across the behavioural sciences.

In describing next generation wireless grid technologies, Wireless Grids Innovation Testbed (WiGiT) researchers [40], [41] refer to "an emerging infrastructure that will fundamentally change the way we think about and use computing." This description seems to cohere with the notion of HCC as 'infrastructure around a human activity." Wireless grids are said to be infrastructure and infrastructureless networks able to work with existing network frameworks (e.g., the Internet) while being able to generate ad hoc networks as needed. Rocker [42] points to the importance of revising existing models of technology diffusion and acceptance when dealing with 21st century technologies which break with established constraints, pertaining to new affordances such as: degrees of autonomy, context awareness, and invisibility. The evolving landscape of information interactions in an increasingly technology-pervasive society gives rise to the need for a reconsideration of the use of the term intuitive, often associated with computing tools and software [43]. D. Intuition The term intuitive is frequently used in relation to software and computing technologies, prompting a broader consideration of the concept of intuition [44] in the context of emerging and next generation technologies. Within the wider context of research, Symons [45] is engaged in the study of intuition in the philosophy domain, attempting to do some 'untangling' of uses that have been made of the concept while locating for it 'a proper place in' contemporary 'philosophical inquiry.' Referring to the 'historically puzzling' revival of intuition in philosophic thought in the 1970s, Symons claims that criticisms of intuition prevalent in the earlier part of the twentieth century are not well founded. As such, he argues that intuition in the context of

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In the arts and humanities, Shanken [47] articulates a relationship between technology and intuition. This relationship is extended to notions of autonomy and interactivity [48] in relation to art and technology. Hurtienne and Blessing [49] examine the concept of intuitive use in relation to intuitive interaction with technology, drawing on conceptual metaphor theory. The MIT Lab supports a digital intuition initiative designed to "give computers human-like intuition so they can better understand us" and assist us to "make better-informed decisions, conquer mountains of data, and expand the reach of our creativity and intelligence" [44]. Giudice [50] is focused on developing intuitive technologies through work with spatial informatics in relation to perception and cognition. Hurtienne and Blessing [49] address intuitive interaction with technology using the definition provided by Mohs et al. [43] – "A technical system is intuitively usable if the users' unconscious application of prior knowledge leads to effective interaction." The methodology employed for this study is presented in section III. III.

METHODOLOGY

This paper is based on research work conducted through the Wireless Grids Innovation Testbed (WiGiT) Lab, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University [12]. This research represents a study of the use experience of WeJay social radio, the first wireless grid software application to emerge through the WiGiT Lab. The methodology for this study is described in three parts, identifying: a description of the process; the sources of evidence; and the data analysis techniques used. 1) Process Description A case study approach was used for this research work, given the contemporary issues under investigation [51]. Using a pre-standards social radio tool known as WeJay, the launch and use experience was explored in a virtual distributed

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university environment. Faculty and students knowledgeable about wireless grids, social media, or both, were invited to participate in the study. Those who signed up for the study were instructed to download and install the wireless grid edgeware application with the guidance of a brief video. A second brief video described the range of functionalities supported by the tool, such as: social interactivity, sharing, collaboration, and presence awareness. With minimal instruction, study participants were asked to set up a radio station; create a radio broadcast using their choice of content; host or co-host the show with one or more individuals; and live-stream the broadcast for shared listening within the WeJay application, with Facebook friends, and with others wishing to tune-in over the Internet to the WeHeartRadio website broadcast. Where participants were unable to install and use the application, the two brief videos provided exposure to the tool, enabling participants to imagine how they would use the product. Participants in the study included faculty, students at all university levels, and a new class of doctoral students simultaneously engaged in the dual roles of work and study. Over a four month period, participants were invited to describe their use experience through one or more methods – interview, focus group, and survey. 2) Sources of Evidence Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, sources of evidence were gathered from participants. Activity data reflecting tool use was gathered. Interviews were conducted based on a pretested interview protocol. Focus groups were conducted based on a pretested focus group protocol. A survey instrument was developed, based on feedback emerging from focus groups and interviews, and pretested prior to use. The survey instrument contained both closed and open ended questions, contributing to the quantitative and qualitative datasets, respectively. 3) Data Analysis Techniques Analysis of qualitative data was undertaken through the use of content analysis. Interview (n=22), focus group (n=6), and open ended survey data (n=20) were organized into 1000 text segments. An inductive approach was used during content analysis, allowing terms to emerge from the data. A deductive approach was also used, relating specific terms from the research literature to the data during analysis. A coding glossary was developed during the content analysis process to support explanation building and pattern matching. Data was coded by a first and second coder, contributing to inter-coder reliability (91%-94%). Given the small sample size (n=34), the analysis of quantitative data was undertaken using descriptive statistics. Data analyzed included tool use activity and closed survey question responses. Data were triangulated in a number of ways for validity and reliability. For example, what participants did (activity data) was triangulated with what participants said they did (qualitative data). Other methods of triangulation used in the study included methodological triangulation (multiple data collection methods), and investigator triangulation (multiple coders).

IV.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Data analysis reveals a range of findings and insights pertaining to awareness, autonomy, and associated dimensions; relevant to social implications for people interacting with information, technology and with each other. 1) Awareness WeJay exhibited sufficient awareness features, as dimensions of the context awareness construct, to enable engagement with participants in discussions about the capability. One participant responded that the feature indicating that a friend was online (presence awareness) is ubiquitous, in that it is expected and taken for granted in social media environments. Similarly, activity stream information providing details on when friends last accessed the system and what broadcasts they listened to was considered to be an ordinary, real time tracking, informing, and sharing feature. Indeed, additional forms of awareness were recommended and said to be desirable, supporting enhanced sharing, collaboration, and interaction. Information shared by participants pertaining to interests and radio show content was considered to be under-leveraged. Recommendations were made for increased data analytics in support of improved leveraging of information for learning, sharing, and collaboration. Real-time monitoring activity was recommended in support of medical and vehicle tracking for the detection of random events, contributing to otherwise difficult-to-detect problems. Creating a space for the engagement of the imagination in research discussions was found to be important in terms of: a) getting at the meaning that is embedded around us and b) interpretations of perceived meaning [52], [53]. 2) Autonomy Autonomy, a dimension of the creativity [54], [55] and innovation constructs, emerged as an important factor for people when using WeJay, the wireless grid social radio tool under study. In the WeJay application, individual and group autonomy is a feature of wireless grids [12], [21]. As a systems affordance, the individual and group autonomy feature supported users to come together into groups to work together around an issue or interest. Degree of autonomy, user control features, and social interaction supports that were afforded by tool use, influenced engagement and creativity. One interviewee found that the absence of one feature affected his sense of creativity and the motivation to be creative. Autonomy was found to be important in relation to: creation of content, sharing, and social aspects of the product and its interaction affordances. In 21st century environments, autonomy is extended to encompass technological systems and networks. Some participants appreciated the tool interactivity capability with the Facebook social media platform, recommending interactivity more broadly with other platforms, operating systems, and devices. Other participants recommended that WeJay leverage other platforms while others recommended that WeJay be leveraged within other platforms. Still others recommended the interaction of the WeJay edgeware gridlet

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platform with social networks in the generation of new and innovative applications. This research found that early-stage prototyping of emerging technologies serves to engage people in discussions about 21st century technologies. Such discussions often extended beyond the individual or group to family, friends, colleagues, and other communities of interest. 3) Intuition This research suggests an awareness and intuition link in the people-technology dynamic, whereby, improvements in awareness features enable people to "intuitively find things that they are interested in," in the words of one participant. As a social radio tool, one participant expressed interest in locating sounds in the context of music preferences. With awareness features not yet leveraged to manage sound, the participant commented on the absence of a "really intuitive way for finding things." V.

DISCUSSION

This research study revealed insights into emerging and next generation technologies in relation to autonomy, awareness, and information interactions in an increasingly technology-pervasive world. Based on the use of a range of data collection methods and analytic techniques, three key elements are discussed in relation to social implications – impact studies for emerging technologies; methods of inquiry; and research implications. 1) Impact Studies Research of this nature enables rich feedback on technologies as they are being developed for intended and possibly unexpected interpretations for uses. Simultaneously, use of the prototyping process in research studies generates mutual learning and education for those who participate in the research and for the researcher. Indeed, a discussion with researchers [56] in the international addictions sector, during research design and prior to conducting the research, served to suggest an interest and urgency in the exploration of next generation technologies for youth engagement. 2) Methods of Inquiry& 21st Century Technologies Discovering and employing research methods that enable the researcher to simultaneously educate and learn about emerging 21st century technologies in real world settings is critical [18]. HCC promotes the discovery and use of new methods of inquiry [8]. DeRuyter and Aarts [3] employ multiple methods in AmI studies, including experience research. In view of the relationship developed in this study between awareness and intuition, it is worth noting the recently pioneered method by Anderson [57]. Intuitive inquiry was developed by Anderson in 1996, published in 1988, and continues to undergo modification. Although not yet employed in the AmI, information technology, or wireless grids domains, intuitive inquiry may have relevance for research pertaining to 21st century technologies. a) Intuitive Inquiry: Anderson claims 'complex human topics' as the research space for intuitive inquiry. 21st century

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technologies occupy such a space, involving as they do the complex interactions of humans with technologies within and across many domains. The space claimed by intuitive inquiry is one involving complex topics "often characteristic of psycho-spiritual development" [57]. Again, ambient technologies would seem to fit into this inquiry method considering that Russ et al. [14] speak of Ambient Information Systems (AIS) as having the potential to bring about a 'new quality IS'. However, the question Russ et al. raise is whether this new quality IS will result in "informed, inspired and liberated humans or dependent, subdued, or addicted creatures." The intuitive inquiry approach asserts the world to be dynamic, "a world reality in flux" and full of potential in that it, "encourages new visions of the future" [57]. Not content with 'describing' what appears to be the case in present time, intuitive inquiry attempts to see or extrapolate the future from what is implied in the present. As such, the study of ambient and 21st century emergent technologies seems amenable to this method of inquiry and may provide more fodder for extrapolation. One concern is the availability of metrics and measures for the assessment of this type of inquiry. b) Assessment of Subtle Human Qualities Scale: Particularly relevant for considerations of technology and society in terms of enabling technology and people to be in balance, Anderson describes measures for a Body Intelligence Scale (BIS). In support of the intuitive inquiry method, Anderson [58] developed the BIS for "assessing subtle human qualities." The body intelligence construct consists of three subscales — energy body awareness (E-BAS); comfort body awareness (C-BAS); and inner body awareness (I-BAS). Evaluation of the scale for reliability and validity and for application to other populations is encouraged. This scale could be adapted for AmI research. It could be argued that all three subscales – E-BAS, C-BAS, and I-BAS – contribute to social well-being and allow for exploration and learning about 'subtle human qualities' and social interactions in 21st century environments. The intuitive inquiry method may have relevance for the interdisciplinary and biologically-inspired models being explored by Global COE [59], [60] researchers. The ambient information environment (AmIE) components advanced by Global COE are said to be "embedded, contextaware, personalized, anticipatory, and uncoerced elements," harmonized with humans. 3) Research Implications Insights from this study pertaining to awareness, confirm the presence of an ambient layer underlying technologymediated environments. Augmentations of physical landscapes and structures, through the increasing embedding of sensors for data gathering, contribute to an invisible technology-assisted underlay of awareness. Augmentations of reality also take the form of information overlays in the physical environment, enabled on an as-needed basis. Multiple layers of awareness contribute to the notion of an ambient world, ambient information, and an ambient commons [1]. Ambient information is transdisciplinary [61], emerging as ambient business, ambient communications, ambient

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journalism, ambient law, to name a few. As such, implications for awareness research emerge in relation to AmI and wireless grid environments, across many domains. In leveraging awareness data, research implications arise for many types of data analytics such as learning analytics [62] and predictive analytics [63], in the case of educational environments. Technology-pervasive environments supporting awareness, and in turn autonomy, have implications for learning and for research. Incorporation of techniques enabling use of the imagination in studies on emerging technology and futures studies has implications for awareness research. In summary, 21st century forms of awareness, autonomy, and related social implications give rise to the need for a new conceptual framework and research agenda. Such a framework and agenda assists in understanding the emerging information landscape, driven by the reflexive relationships of people interacting with technology and with each other. VI. 21ST CENTURY CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK & AGENDA This study confirms earlier findings in the research literature pertaining to autonomy and awareness and extends our understanding into the emerging environment of AmI with wireless grids. Based on early use experience by postsecondary faculty and students, in a virtual distributed environment, this study proposes a new conceptual framework for 21st century autonomies and awareness research. 1) Conceptual Framework for Autonomies & Awareness In the interests of human-centered computing (HCC) and in support of the potential for technology and people to be in balance, a 21st century autonomies and awareness conceptual framework is advanced. Depicted graphically in Fig. 1, the conceptual framework shows the presence of an ambient layer underlying technology-mediated environments. Presence awareness and other forms of awareness are expected and anticipated in online environments. In the AmI with wireless grids environment, the awareness dimension is present which enables and supports autonomy. Wireless grid tools enable and support autonomy and in turn, the awareness layer. Awareness and autonomy support and enable various forms of interactivity – people to people; people to technology; and technology to technology. Autonomy forms an overlay, enabled by awareness. Interactivity supports social, sharing, and collaborative interactions between people. Additionally, interactive relationships between people and technology are supported, as are interoperable interactions between technologies. As demonstrated during the study of the WeJay social media tool, the AmI with wireless grids environments operates within existing infrastructures such as the Internet. Interoperability with social networking platforms such as Facebook was demonstrated with the WeJay tool. In the lower portion of Fig. 1, the AmI with wireless grids application is theorized to operate outside existing infrastructure in infrastructureless spaces enabling ad hoc forming and dissolving of networks [10] across multiple devices.

Figure 1. 21st Century Autonomies & Awareness Conceptual Framework

A 21st century autonomies and awareness conceptual framework, in support of the potential for technology and people to be in balance, opens the potential for a new research agenda. 2) Autonomies & Awareness Research Agenda This research study brings together the body of literature on awareness research, autonomy, autonomous systems, and intuition. In the context of research on AmI with wireless grids, using the WeJay tool, this study demonstrates the importance and potential of involving people in the design, development, use, and implementation of emerging technologies for education. Drawing on early stage insight into concerns and recommendations related to awareness and autonomy, this paper calls for collaborative dialogue and action around 21st century technologies for learning. An autonomies and awareness research agenda is articulated as follows: •

In addressing the social implications of emerging 21st century technologies, utilization of a human-centered research approach that acknowledges, accommodates, and respects the people and technology interrelationship and dynamic [64];

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Further research into human-centered information interactions for people and technology in validating and building upon the nascent interaction dynamic developed for AmI with wireless grids [64];

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Continued research into the range of new and emerging types of autonomies and awareness;

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Research that initiates, extends, and reframes discussions for the 21st century context regarding autonomies, awareness, and intuition in support of the notion of technology and people in balance;

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Research that addresses and accommodates the ambiguities, contradictions, and complexities of 21st century technology experiences articulated by McKenna et al. [12] and many others;

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Exploration of Intuitive Inquiry as a viable research method for 21st century technologies featuring autonomies and awareness;

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Further studies on the social implications of technology-pervasive learning environments generally, and in relation to unintended consequences and unexpected possibilities. VII. CONTRIBUTIONS & IMPLICATIONS

This paper makes a contribution to research and practice in a number of ways. 1) Contributions: This study: •

brings together the research areas of awareness and autonomies;

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positions awareness and autonomies research more centrally in the AmI and wireless grids domains;

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reframes the intuition concept for 21st century technology environments;

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proposes the use of intuitive inquiry as a research method for emerging and next generation technologies;

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proposes a conceptual framework for 21st century autonomies and awareness research;

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proposes an autonomies and awareness research agenda for the 21st century.

As the lines blur between places of research, work, school, and everyday life, it is important to think in more fluid terms. 2) Implications: In the past, the luxury existed of taking time to study the impact of technologies. Now, the immediacy of technologypervasive environments requires that we develop stronger interrelationships between research and practice and across disciplines. We have an opportunity to explore social impact potentials in the conceptualization, design and development of emerging technologies. This research departs from current approaches in that this study:

engaging people in the conceptualization, design, development, use, and interpretation for use, of emerging and next generation technologies. Conducting research and development in this way enables more immediate engagement with social impact and implications issues. Insights gained from the use experience of faculty and students with WeJay social radio provided the basis for development of a conceptual framework for understanding the social dimensions of people interacting with technology in the 21st century. Other contributions of this study include: the development of a research agenda; reconsideration of intuition in relation to emerging technologies; the potential for intuitive inquiry to serve as a method for the study of technology-pervasive environments; and the importance of human-centered computing for the 21st century. This paper is intended for use by researchers, policymakers, educators, developers, and practitioners alike, across many domains. The conceptual framework is intended to initiate new discussions, extend existing discussions, and encourage a rethinking of assumptions around autonomies and awareness in 21st century contexts. A key take away from this paper is the power and potential for humanity to interact in meaningful and balanced ways with technologies that support autonomies, awareness, and intuition. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The development of the Wireless Grid Innovation Testbed is primarily funded by the support of the National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation program grants NSF #0227879 (2002-2006) and continued under NSF # 0917973 (2009-2011). The views expressed are those of the authors. REFERENCES [1] [2] [3]

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Articulates the potential for a people-technology balance;

[4]

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Stresses the importance of an HCC perspective in the potential for a people-technology balance;

[5]

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Argues for both HCC and the people-technology balance as integral to debates and research on social implications and impacts.

[6]

VIII. CONCLUSIONS This paper focuses on autonomies and awareness in technology-pervasive learning environments in addressing concerns associated with the social impacts and implications of new technologies. A human-centered computing (HCC) approach, in support of technology and people in balance, is advanced by this research. The study demonstrates the value of

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