Over
the last decade, distributed computing has dramatically evolve in two
main
directions: the integration of distributed resources disseminated over
wide
area networks in the framework of virtual organizations, large-scale
collaborative applications and infrastructures, grids, computing clouds
; the
integration of tiny and/or mobile devices into distributed embedded
systems,
pervasive systems, ubiquitous applications.
Both
evolutions tend to transform IT into a new utility or service: whatever
the
device you use, whatever the place you are, whatever the task you want
to
perform, the “Cyberinfrastructure” should provide you with the
(hardware,
software) resources you need and deliver the service you request.
This new
vision of computing is appealing as it tends to relieve users of the
burden of
buying, managing, parameterizing, integrating hardware facilities and
software.
In some way, emerging computing paradigms realize Mark Weiser’s vision
of a
computer “so imbedded, so fitting, so natural, that we use it without
even
thinking about it”. “Ask, don’t worry (and be happy!): the “system”
will give
you what you need” is the new slogan.
However,
this new vision also raises important and yet unsolved scientific,
technological, ethical issues.
The purpose
of this course if: first, to give an overview of emergent technologies
in the
domains of large scale distributed computing and pervasive/ubiquitous
computing
; second, to identify open issues ; finally, to point out opportunities
and
threats raised by these technologies.