The Challenge of Designing a Multiple-Interface Product

I've been exploring the strengths and weaknesses of designers when it comes to designing multiple interface products. That is, products where the user can interact in various modalities - for example, speech, touch, gesture, and of course physical control.

As more and more products enable a variety of interactions we need to figure out the best way to design these interfaces as individual modes as well as integrated ones.  

I recently facilitated a "DesignSlam" workshop (organized by PhillyCHI and co-sponsored by the IDSA) where teams of interface and industrial designers collaborated on creating a multiple interface solution for a product.  The results were quite interesting.

I could go into more detail, but read the associated articles at:

FastCompany.com -http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663144/how-do-you-create-hybrid-interfaces-you-touch-talk-to-and-poke
 

Core77-http://www.core77.com/blog/events/phillychi_5th_annual_designslam_winners_18448.asp

Flying Kite Media - http://www.flyingkitemedia.com/features/phillychidesignslam0201.aspx