[lam]

Good start in pointing out those disparate UIs. As you have pointed out, though, devs/manufacturers feel they have an incentive to create something different. From a user's POV what's needed is just one UI that he's familiar with. Maybe one solution is creating a UI (HW/SW/etc) that knows how to map functionalities automatically for different devices/apps.

[SolarNet]

Definitely, the main thing is that we need a unified UI system.

The web isn't a current solution, although it has the potential to be it.

And there aren't any good desktop solutions because there are so many UI patterns and elements that are required.

[sizzle]

what about the ability to create user friendly, customizable shortcuts in the UI of certain products? I really enjoy customizing my android phone with shortcuts that are intuitive to me, such as double tap back arrow --> jump between last open app, and long press menu button --> pull down notification bar from top.

I wish I could define or remap buttons on physical appliances, granted it's an advanced mode common users would not be burdened with.

[SolarNet]

By being the one that control the UI's look and feel, the ability for power users to create arbitrary UI controls would simply materialize!