Studying The Use of Handhelds To Control Everyday Appliances

Everyday appliances, including telephones, ovens, and home stereos, increasingly contain embedded computers to provide greater functionality. Unfortunately, as these appliances become more complex, their interfaces are becoming harder to use. At the same time, more people than ever are carrying computerized devices that can communicate, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and even some watches. Our vision is that these devices will be able to communicate with our everyday appliances using a short-range wireless network, enabling people to control their appliances from a single handheld device. We present two studies that suggest that handheld devices could be used effectively as remote controls for everyday appliances.