Since 2004, the European Symposium on Ambient Intelligence (EUSAI) and many other conferences have been held that address special topics in AmI. Criticism As far as dissemination of information on personal presence is out of control, ambient intelligence vision is subject of criticism (e.g. David Wright, Serge Gutwirth, Michael Friedewald et al., Safeguards in a World of Ambient Intelligence, Springer, Dordrecht, 2008). Any immersive, personalized, context-aware and anticipatory characteristics brings up societal, political and cultural concerns about the loss of privacy. The example scenario above shows both the positive and negative possibilities offered by ambient intelligence. Applications of ambient intelligence do not necessarily have to reduce privacy in order to work. Power concentration in large organizations, a fragmented, decreasingly private society and hyperreal environments where the virtual is indistinguishable from the real are the main topics of critics. Several research groups and communities are investigating the socioeconomic, political and cultural aspects of ambient intelligence. Social and political aspects The ISTAG advisory group suggests that the following characteristics will permit the societal acceptance of ambient intelligence. Ambient intelligence should: facilitate human contact. be oriented towards community and cultural enhancement. help to build knowledge and skills for work, better quality of work, citizenship and consumer choice. inspire trust and confidence. be consistent with long term sustainability—personal, societal and environmental—and with lifelong learning. be made easy to live with and controllable by ordinary people. Business models The ISTAG group acknowledges the following entry points to AmI business landscape: Initial premium value niche markets in industrial, commercial or public applications where enhanced interfaces are needed to support human performance in fast moving or delicate situations. Start-up and spin-off opportunities from identifying potential service requirements and putting the services together that meet these new needs. High access-low entry cost based on a loss leadership model in order to create economies of scale (mass customization). Audience or customer's attention economy as a basis for 'free' end-user services paid for by advertising or complementary services or goods. Self-provision—based upon the network economies of very large user communities providing information as a gift or at near zero cost (e.g. social networking applications). The combination of multiple and diverse datasets in a platform for sense-making and understanding consumer behaviour (e.g. Near). Technologies A variety of technologies can be used to enable Ambient intelligence environments such as: Bluetooth Low Energy RFID Microchip implant Sensors: Ambient light sensor (photodetector), thermometers, proximity