C-SPAN (the cable TV industry-sponsored public affairs broadcasting channel) offers a nifty service which emails to subscribers an updated program of what is to appear on the various C-SPAN channels each day (because there are always last-minute changes). These emails look like this..
While this is pretty cool it could be a lot better. For example, if I have a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) such as TiVo or ReplayTV, or Dish Network's PVR it would be nice to just check off the items in the email and have them be automatically recorded from right there. Something like this...
All the user had to do is give his permission for C-SPAN for detect his devices (in this case his PVR) and it will know the model and configuration mechanisms, username and password necessary to access it, and so on. No user interaction is necessary to set this up beyond granting permission for C-SPAN to see and manipulate the PVR. C-SPAN can also offer specific services for PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), pagers, or cell phones based on configuration information in the AuthentiKey system. Other TV programs, radio programs, TV networks, and so on can similarly configure recording and tuning devices automatically in similar ways. Other sites can do similar things too. For example, a website for parrot breeders can offer a button to configure the user's PVR to record an upcoming lecture on parrot diseases.
These kinds of interfaces are especially important in the context of relatively interface-less devices (with tiny screens, no keyboards, or mice, etc.). Being able to set them up and configure them in complex ways through software and websites on other devices conveniently will be a significant factor in their market success. Your portable MP3 player, digital camera, component stereo system, and audio recorder shouldn't need a complex keyboard/screen/mouse interface in order to use them in easy and flexible ways and you can't do that without a uniform repository like AuthentiKey offers.