However, care should be taken not to create hybrid devices that do too much and are so complex that they are useless to the consumer. The technology and user interface for information appliances will be driven by the nature of the services and content. In some cases one company may perform the role of two of the parties, but the key components are still the same. To scope these discussions, we have taken a largely device-based view of the user interface challenges. However, content and services will also be factors in this space.
Information appliances provide an opportunity for new, ground-breaking user interface work.
The application of computing technology and the traditional notion of appliances to small consumer devices are an exciting challenge for both the computer and consumer electronics industries. Clearly, most of the user-centered design approaches and tools that have matured over the past 20 years of research and practice still apply in this domain. However, information appliances will challenge two very different industries to converge in many areas. User interface and usability will be key components for the products and services resulting from this convergence. 2.6 References AllNetDevices.