The famous 20th Century architect Le Corbusier defined a building as "a machine for living." Many of us have experienced intense frustration and unhappiness with "the machines" in which we live and work. With the ever increasing embedding of information technology within the built environment, in the form of sensors, actuators, displays, cameras, network connectivity, and programmable controllers all potentially coupled to sophisticated building management systems, the ability for buildings to become aware of and respond to the needs and desires of their occupants is finally emerging. The hoped for result is more comfortable and productive occupants inside of buildings that are more efficient and sustainable in their operation.
In this talk, we discuss the computer science research challenges in creating Smart Grids and Software-Defined Buildings, important categories of cyber-physical systems, and how these developments related to the emergence of Smart Cities.
Randy Howard Katz is Interim Executive Advisor for Research and Innovation (EYE-EAR&EYE), Academic Affairs, University of California Office of the President, for 2025-26.
He is Vice Chancellor for Research Emeritus and United Microelectronics Corporation Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley ( randykatz@berkeley.edu - https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~randy ).
He will also receive, earlier on that same day of this talk, an Honorary Doctorate Degree Award by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Crete ( https://www.uoc.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Katz-Inv.pdf ).
