We are moving towards a future where environments respond to human preferences and needs. In this world, smart devices equipped with intelligent features and the capability to sense, communicate with and support humans in daily activities will be unremarkable. We already expect our cars to warn us of hazards, track our location and provide timely route advice, and in future we will speak to simple machines and hold conversations with more complex systems, such as intelligent homes, which will help us to monitor conditions, track routine tasks, and program the heating, lighting, garden watering and entertainment centre.