Device independence

Abstract: Individual characters and text are the main inputs in many computing devices. Currently there is a growing trend in developing small portable devices like mobile phones, personal digital assistants, GPS-navigators, and two-way pagers. Unfortunately these portable computing devices have different user interfaces and therefore the task of text input takes many forms. The user, who in the future is likely to have several of these devices, has to learn several text input methods. We argue that there is a need for a universal text input method. A method like this would work on a wide range of interface technologies and allow the user to transfer his or her writing skill without device-specific training. To show that device independent text input is possible, we present a candidate for a device independent text entry method that supports skill transfer between different devices. A limited longitudinal study was conducted to achieve a proof of concept evaluation of our Minimal Device Independent Text Input Method (MDITIM). We found MDITIM writing skill acquired with a touchpad to work almost equally well on mouse, trackball, joystick and keyboard without any additional training. Our test group reached on average 41% of their handwriting speed by the end of the tenth 30-minute training session.

Abstract: Device manufacturers, users, and authors have differing needs and expectations when it comes to Web content. Web software and hardware manufacturers naturally try to differentiate their products by supporting a special combination of capabilities, but few can expect Web authors to create content for their product alone. Users, however, do expect to access the same content from any device with similar capabilities. Even when device capabilities differ, users might still want access to an adapted version of the content. Due to device differences, the adaptation might not produce an identical presentation, but device-independence principles suggest it should be sufficiently functional to let users interact with it successfully. Web application authors cannot afford to create multiple content versions for each of the growing range of device types. Authors would rather create their content once, and adapt it to different devices-but they also want to retain control of presentation quality. Device independence is about trying to satisfy these differing needs, spanning the delivery path between author and user by way of diverse manufacturers' devices. The field's continued evolution within the broader Web standards framework aims to find solutions that are beneficial for all.

Abstract: The violation of certain Bell inequalities allows for device-independent information processing secure against nonsignaling eavesdroppers. However, this only holds for the Bell network, in which two or more agents perform local measurements on a single shared source of entanglement. To overcome the practical constraints that entangled systems can only be transmitted over relatively short distances, large-scale multisource networks have been employed. Do there exist analogs of Bell inequalities for such networks, whose violation is a resource for device independence? In this Letter, the violation of recently derived polynomial Bell inequalities will be shown to allow for device independence on multisource networks, secure against nonsignaling eavesdroppers.

Abstract: Increasing numbers of users want to access web content from devices such as WAP phones or PDA's. Creating content for each device would be expensive and time consuming. This report provides a survey of current technologies related to the creation of device independent web content and web applications.