Introduction to the thematic issue on Ambient and Smart Component Technologies for Human Centric Computing

Human-Centric Computing is the discipline that studies the way humans and artificial systems interact reciprocally and exchange information. It is strictly related to other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, cognitive sciences, graphic design and partially overlaps with other ICT technologies such as Human-Computer Interaction, Affective Computing, Persuasive Computing, and others. A strong relationship exists also between HumanCentric Computing and Intelligent Environments such as Ambient Intelligence and Ambient Assisted Living applications, Smart Environments and Smart Cities. From one hand, indeed, the design of Intelligent Environments aimed at supporting actively their inhabitants cannot leave out any aspect concerning the way the user may/want interact with artificial entities and receive support from them. On the other hand, Intelligent Environments may provide technologies such as, for example, those for context and situation awareness, that can enable new ways of designing and realizing more effective interaction systems and mechanisms between humans and artificial entities. In this thematic issue both points of view are considered taking carefully into account that several technical challenges remain to be solved before effective, intelligent, secure, and reliable solutions – that fully exploit potentials of both AmI and HCC – can be deployed trustfully into real environments. 2. In this thematic issue