Over the past year, we saw Apple's iPad define the consumer tablet market, selling between 8 and 10 million units and proving that customers want a web-enabled device that's not quite their computer and not their smart phone. While we have already seen a few competitors begin to creep into the market, 2011 is positioned to be the year of the tablet as HP, Samsung, Google, Microsoft and many more roll out their offerings. Love 'em or hate 'em, if you produce content and experiences for the web, you need start planing for ways to accommodate these devices. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to start actively supporting tablets:

• Screen size: While nowhere near as small as a smart phone, tablet screen real estate is significantly smaller than the average desktop or laptop. Most tablets feature 7- to 10-inch screens and resolutions around 1024 x 768 (with pixel densities generally higher than standard computer screens).
• Touch interface: Aside from a very few stylist-driven offerings, almost all slate tablets entering the market next year will utilize touch interfaces. While this creates some limits around buttons size, it also opens up some new gestural interface opportunities.
• Orientations and proportions: As in the realm of the modern LCD or laptop screen, we are seeing a wide range of proportions, from the more common 4/3 to the more cinematic 16/10. Like most smart phones, almost all tablets allow users to quickly change proportions by tilting the device.
• Mixed support: As new devices hit the scene sporting various operating systems and browsers, an entirely new compatibility headache is born. Additionally, we are looking at a whole new set of app specs and capabilities to contend with.
  

So what does it mean
At a high level, the growing popularity of tablets means we need to continue to push ourselves to be more flexible and accommodating in our approach. From a design and UX perspective, we need to consider incorporating more fluidity into our work, building smarter and more adaptable creations. As developers, we will be challenged to support the variety of devices and platforms. Content strategists and creators must also begin to think more contextually about their output. The lines between platforms are getting blurrier every day.

Where once we had laptops and desktops we now have smartphones, web TVs, tablets, netbooks and more. The longer we try contain and define these platforms, the more blind we become to the overarching trend of platform proliferation. We need strategies and tactics that support a complex and divergent set of devices so that our audience can connect with our content and experiences in the way that fits them best.

The tablets are coming
While CES 2011 is sure to be the launchpad for many of the tablets that will shape the market, here are a few that you can already get your hands on:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab: One of the most anticipated Android tablets, the Tab fits all the bells and whistles (camera, GPS, WiFi, 3G, Flash 10.1 support, etc.) into a 7" tablet.
• HP Slate 500: Running Windows 7 and sporting two cameras, a USB port, pen and touch support and a 1.86 GHz processor with 2GB of RAM, the Slate is laptop power in a tablet body.
• And offerings from Dell, ViewSonic, BlackBerry, NortonInk and Archos (just to name a few).