Context Awareness and External Factors

The adequate functioning of most current software systems assumes the capability to adapt with regard to numerous circumstances; we call a (software) system “context-aware” if it can deliver “behavior” that is relevant to a particular context situation, as opposed to rigid systems that cannot easily adapt to the changing environment. Most context-aware (software) systems are sensitive to changes in the situation of the user while others are sensitive to changes concerning their own operation. Nevertheless, sensitivity to changes that concern external factors (such as public values, regulations, and norms) is insufficiently covered by most current context-aware software systems. This paper touches upon context awareness and external factors, justifying the need for a more thorough consideration of public values, regulations, and norms in the specification of context-aware software systems. Our analytical contribution is not backed by proof-of-principle / proof-of-concept because we report research in progress and plan to do this in the future.