The paper discusses the concept of "context" in the context of ubiquitous computing, a new design paradigm that aims to integrate computational systems into everyday physical environments. The emergence of ubiquitous computing has raised significant challenges for human-computer interaction (HCI) and interaction design, particularly in understanding how computational systems can be sensitive to their settings. The paper highlights two main approaches to using context: encoding context as a retrieval cue and dynamically tailoring system behavior based on context. It also explores the social and technical dimensions of context, noting that while designers aim to make systems more responsive to specific settings, the translation from social observations to technical design can be problematic. The paper concludes by examining the dual origins of context in ubiquitous computing—its technical and social dimensions—and the challenges of translating between these perspectives.The paper discusses the concept of "context" in the context of ubiquitous computing, a new design paradigm that aims to integrate computational systems into everyday physical environments. The emergence of ubiquitous computing has raised significant challenges for human-computer interaction (HCI) and interaction design, particularly in understanding how computational systems can be sensitive to their settings. The paper highlights two main approaches to using context: encoding context as a retrieval cue and dynamically tailoring system behavior based on context. It also explores the social and technical dimensions of context, noting that while designers aim to make systems more responsive to specific settings, the translation from social observations to technical design can be problematic. The paper concludes by examining the dual origins of context in ubiquitous computing—its technical and social dimensions—and the challenges of translating between these perspectives.