The Institute of Pervasive Computing at the Johannes Kepler University Linz is one of the first research institutions worldwide to systematically address the research questions arising from embedding AI into objects and environments of everyday life from different perspectives. Led by Alois Ferscha since the institute's inception at the JKU in 2000, the institute works closely with research institutions in Austria and abroad, global technology leaders, and industry.

The institute's research focus in the area of pervasive computing is on context/awareness (identity management, localization and positioning, tagging, tracking and authentication), attention/cognition and intelligence (machine learning and pattern recognition, reasoning and planning), appliances ("smart things", "smart environments", tangible interaction, wearable computers), natural interfaces (multimodal interaction, gestural interaction, haptics, olfactory interaction) and software architecture (middleware, service management, coordination architectures).