Determining the kind of product that's developed boils down to what the user wants. These days, end users are very vocal in sharing their feedback about a product—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Companies would do well to gather input efficiently, pay heed to the results, and then respond quickly.

While swiping and tapping icons and displays on screens is remarkable, there is no physical feeling the way there is with buttons and keys. But now that's changing: New developments in the field of tactile, or “haptic,” devices soon will let users feel textures on a flat touchscreen.

The use of digital information and devices among toddlers has been steadily increasing each year. Recent studies from the non-profit firm Common Sense Media show that 38 percent of two-year-olds are using mobile devices. Rajini Padmanaban looks at toddlers as a software user base.