Ubiquitous Computing in the Cloud: User Empowerment vs. User Obsequity

Abstract

This paper analyses the evolution of the Internet, shifting from a decentralized architecture designed around the end-to-end principle with powerful mainframe/personal computers at each end, to a more centralized network designed according to the mainframe model, with increasingly weaker user’s devices that no longer have the ability to run a server nor to process any consistent amount of data or information. The advantages of ubiquitous computing (allowing data to become available from anywhere and at any time regardless of the device) should thus be counter-balanced with the costs it entails (loss of users’ autonomy, concerns as regards privacy, and freedom of expression, etc.).

Keywords: cloud computing, ubiquitous computing, user autonomy, fundamental rights