Using handhelds and PCs together

Pebbles spreads computing functions and their related user interfaces across all computing and input/output devices available to a particular user or group of users, even when they're communicating wirelessly. Most other developers and researchers have focused on how handhelds are used to replace personal computers (PCs) when users are mobile. The focus in the Pebbles project is how handhelds and the PC work together when both are available. Multimachine user interfaces (MMUI) applications, which are used by individuals and by groups, involve heterogeneous devices for both input and output with embedded processors connected and sharing information synchronously while being collocated. MMUI expose a number of new human-computer interface research issues and problems; some are relevant to group work, others to how to facilitate individual work, and still others to how devices communicate. With the coming wireless technologies, connecting PCs and personal digital assistants (PDA) will no longer be an occasional event for synchronization of data. Instead, the devices will frequently be in close interactive communication.