Are Ambient Intelligence and Augmented Reality Two Sides of the Same Coin? Implications for Human-Computer Interaction

We revisit the foundational principles of Ambient Intelligence (AmI) and Augmented Reality (AR) environments to discuss the perspective that AmI and AR feature the same vision of computing, as intuited at their origins, despite their recent development into what may appear as two distinct areas of scientific investigation. We focus on three concepts core to both AmI and AR, on which we capitalize to argue that a significant philosophical overlap exists between their visions: (1) the concept of an environment that undergoes a form of augmentation, (2) the indispensable process of an integration involving the environment, and (3) the emergence of a specific form of media congruent with the characteristics of the environment in which they are created, transmitted, and consumed. We draw implications for the science and practice of Human-Computer Interaction regarding new interactive environments enabled by the technologies of AmI and AR used conjointly.