Designing future appliances: A new approach is needed to ensure that technology will deliver better products

Undoubtedly, the familiar and relentless progress of computing power is opening up new categories of products and business opportunities. Essentially, it will not be long before any appliance that does not already have the capability to use embedded computing will soon find itself able to do so with a consequent explosion of possibilities. However, while this technological development is now delivering ground‐breaking gadgets for travel, entertainment and retailing, there is a danger that this could get out of hand.