Title: Ethical, Cultural and Political Provocations in Ubiquitous Computing
Speaker: Andreas Komminos (University of Patras)
When: May 6, 2025, 14h00
Where: Ciências ULisboa, C6.3.27
Invited by: Tiago Guerreiro

Abstract: Many consider Mark Weiser to be the father of Ubiquitous Computing. Yet, visions of pervasive digital sapience in the service of humanity, such as smart domestic environments, have been popular since the 1930s. During the rise of the post-modern age in the late 20th century, critiques of grand narratives already began to question the role of technology as part of humanity’s grand narratives. Somehow, Ubiquitous Computing remains anchored in much of our thinking as a proximal future that’s just around the corner, perpetually close, and also perpetually out of reach. As we work towards this proximal technological future, the world is adopting Ubiquitous Computing in unexpected ways, past our aspirations and intentions. This talk attempts to shed some light on the current cultural, economic and political framework that is influencing, or even co-opting ubiquitous technology, touching on today’s iconistic, post-human subject as the epicentre and battleground of neo-liberal and neo-colonial practice, seeking to determine, rather than liberate our future. I argue for the urgent need for moral philosophy in Ubicomp, and a shift in our thinking to take us from the status of a tech-priesthood, to that of a collective of artists, if we are to maintain humankind, and our humanity, in the rapid emergence of a cyber-physical world.

Bio: Andreas Komninos has a Ph.D. in Mobile & Ubiquitous Computing from the University of Strathclyde (2005). Since 2003, he has authored over 120 scientific publications in the field, with a focus on human-computer interaction with Ubicomp systems, including mobile text entry, moblile personal information retrieval, context awarene systems and AR/VR . He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Computer Engineering and Informatics Department at the University of Patras, Greece. He is a member of the ACM and recipient of multiple recognitions for his work at international conferences, journals and tech competitions. More information can be found on his personal website, http://www.komninos.info.