ABSTRACT
System-Operated Products (SOP’s) such as personal digital assistants and portable digital communication devices, are single elements within larger interdependent systems. They rely upon the exchange of electronic information such as sound, text, images and video. These systems are becoming a significant feature of postindustrial societies but may ultimately challenge the traditional relationships people have with time and place. This is a result of the increased demand for near instantaneous information exchange that is not subject to geographical constraints. The problem is that this often requires the use of complex computing and telecommunication technologies. These are frequently in the form of ‘hidden layers’ of technology (e.g., cellular transmission technologies and service providers) which may make it harder for the user to develop a suitable understanding of a product’s optimal function and operation.
