The development of computing technology towards truly personal devices is a trend which has been apparent for the last five years. The few mass market products which exist have been developed in the wake of drastic changes in technology. In addition to improvements in memories and processors, technologies such as wireless IR and RF network, color flatpanel displays, digital audio and video technology, memory components and an ever-expanding global digital medium, are among the elements that can be combined in mass market products. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing focuses on issues surrounding the innovation, design, use and evaluation of new generations of innovative handheld and mobile information appliances. It aims to provide a global perspective in new developments, uniting technical accounts with studies of the social, cultural and organizational impacts of new personal technologies. The Journal will contain studies of end-user interface issues in the design and use of personal technologies whilst also providing accounts of enabling technologies such as communications memory, displays and novel computing designs.