InfoPoint: A device that provides a uniform user interface to allow appliances to work together over a network

This paper proposes a new hand-held device called 'InfoPoint' that allows appliances to work together over a network. We have applied the idea of 'drag-and-drop' operation as provided in the GUIs of PC and workstation desktop environment. InfoPoint provides a unified interface that gives different types of appliances 'drag-and-drop'-like behaviour for the transfer of data. Moreover, it can transfer data from/to non-appliances such as pieces of paper. As a result, InfoPoint allows appliances to work together, in the real-world environment, in terms of data transfer. A prototype of InfoPoint has been implemented and several experimental applications have been investigated. InfoPoint has shown its applicability in a variety of circumstances. We believe that the idea proposed in this paper will be a significant technology in the network of the future.