Many screen-free gadgets have a zero user interface (UI) and require people to use audio- or gesture-based cues to control their devices. Zero UI is ideal for the 38% of global consumers who struggle to limit their screentime (Deloitte, 2023), but it can also make hardware and software more accessible for those with disabilities.

A new wave of brands is bringing audio interfaces to all manner of devices, building off consumers’ experiences with voice-based smart assistants (like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri). These discreet voice-activated wearables and services leverage natural language processing to interpret spoken commands and democratise the experience of having a personal assistant.

Without screen-based signalling, some zero UI devices deploy tactile reactions – from haptic vibrations to clicky buttons – to communicate with the user. Similarly, gesture-based controls allow people to manage technology through intuitive physical signals. These concrete interactions give individuals a more immediate, tangible relationship with their devices.

As tech fatigue makes consumers consider ways to limit their time spent with screens – a phenomenon detailed in Consumers & Screentime – there’s an emerging class of gadgets that incorporate a screen in a less obtrusive manner. These hidable, invisible or easy-viewing devices are stepping stones towards a broader implementation of zero UI.