Multi-dimensional intelligence in smart physical objects

This paper is about characterizing intelligence in Smart Physical Objects, i.e., objects based on the tight and seamless integration of a physical and a digital counterpart. The design of these objects gives rise to new opportunities but requires taking into account a number of dimensions that contribute to smartness. In our view, supported by considerable literature on this subject, smart behavior is the result of proper combinations of several dimensions of intelligence. In the paper we analyze these dimensions, singling out different alternatives leading to different capabilities of smart objects. The contribution of the paper is to provide a framework to guide a designer in making decisions about smartness in the physical object being designed, starting from its requisites. At the same time the framework provides an effective guide to classify and compare smart physical objects according to the type and level of smartness they exhibit. We apply the approach to a set of smart physical objects showing its suitability and usefulness.