Smart eXPerience living lab (SmartXP)

We are refurbishing one of the oldest buildings on campus of the University of Twente to house the Smart eXPerience living lab (SmartXP). In this smart experience living lab, we put ubiquitous technology on a pedestal in a theatre-like setting. SmartXP provides students, researchers, and other professionals the opportunity to experience technology in realistic settings. Here technology meets technology, technology meets humans and humans meet technology, which are all necessary requirements to reach the ubiquitous systems vision. In this vivid environment we encourage people to give constructive extra disciplinary reviews. We feel that the interactive design of SmartXP is a source of inspiration for innovation and the creative use of ubiquitous systems.

Creative application and development of technology is one essential ingredient of ubiquitous computing which however requires in-depth access to the relevant technologies that goes beyond a mere literature study or an occasional cooperation. Ubiquitous computing research often leads to prototypes that however cannot be evaluated without medium to large scale trials in a realistic setting. The cost of such trials is generally too high to be borne by a single project. CTIT and the faculty EEMCS are establishing the Smart eXPerience living lab (SmartXP) environment as an open resource and show-case facility for ubiquitous technology in realistic settings.

In this lab engineers, social scientists, and artists work together on the next generation of ubiquitous systems. As part of their daily work, they participate in each others experiments and review each others systems. As an example, engineers will observe the effect that users and competing technologies have on their systems, social scientists can observe the effect that systems have on users, and artists are triggered in disruptive use of technology.

The SmartXP lab will be an important tool for prioritizing the research agenda, both in the technical and social sciences. The SmartXP provides essential facilities for small and medium scale projects with flexible experimentation grounds in a realistic setting, with knowledgeable users and competing technology. The user group of the lab consists of scientists with a very broad background. They will review new systems taking a perspective that significantly differs from traditional peer review. As such the laboratory is a market place for expert knowledge and experience on a wide range of disciplines. Finally, the SmartXP fits seamlessly to educational facilities, such as, the Smart Factory and CreaTe curriculum.

The SmartXP offers access to a wealth of expertise and technology. The SmartXP is well connected; it has some permanent technical staff, and a moderate budget to support project activities. On the university campus, the SmartXP maintains relations with laboratories such as the health lab, the social science lab, and the virtual reality lab. Off campus, the SmartXP lab participates in the Smart Environment Lab, a network of 3TU labs, and it links to several industrial laboratories. Relations are generally materialized in project participations.

More information is available at http://smartxp.ewi.utwente.nl