SMART ROADS IN THE PERVASIVE COMPUTING LANDSCAPE V. Christian, A. Ferscha, W. Narzt, G. Pomberger 1 D. Kolb, R. Müller, J. Wieghardt 2 R. Bidner, H. Hörtner, C. Lindinger 3 Abstract Physical objects capable of supplying computing services to users by utilizing hidden pervasive computing technologies are considered to be smart. Allowing not only a physical correspondence of object and enabling technology but also a logical one substantially increases the set of real objects to be considered as smart. This paper presents an innovative thought model of virtually smart things, i.e., objects in the real world not physically equipped with sensory gadgets or interaction facilities, but also being aware of their surrounding environment by their virtual representation. The main focus of the following sections concentrates on a Smart Road, a fully imple- mented use-case, telling its users where to go. 1. Pervasive Computing Landscape The pervasive and ubiquitous computing landscape is defined by an assortment of enabling technologies attached to small, embedded and mobile devices (often referred to as "smart things", "smart appliances" or "smart spaces") interacting with the user in a pro-active, autonomous, sovereign and user-authorized way [1][2]. Objects of eve- ryday life are equipped with e.g. wireless network technology, microprocessors, etc., invisible for the users, in order to perform and control a multitude of tasks and func- tions via natural interaction leaving the users unaware of the technical implementation. Up until now, hardware technology is physically attached to objects or integrated into appliances or the surrounding environment in order to enhance these things with com- puting services and to therewith make them smart (e.g., smart tables, smart offices, smart environments [3]). In the future, however, smartness will not only be achieved by affixing technical equipment onto tangible devices: Any object in the real world may act as a smart thing by just virtually augmenting it with computing services. 2. Smart Roads As a major challenge, the road appears to be a good example for a virtually smart thing, being too large to be area-wide equipped with sensor-, actuator-, controller-, and communication technology, but also asserting a claim to provide computing ser- vices: A smart road shall e.g., be capable of guiding a driver to a desired destination. 1 University of Linz, Altenbergerstr. 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria. 2 Siemens AG, Otto-Hahn Ring 6, D-81730 Munich, Germany. 3 Ars Electronica Futurelab, Hauptstr. 2, A-4040 Linz, Austria.