46. Computerized information and display apparatus, comprising: data processing apparatus; a data bus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless network interface, the wireless network interface configured for data communication with at least one network entity; a display device in data communication with the data processing apparatus; a data interface in data communication with the data processing apparatus and configured to transfer data between the computerized information and display apparatus and a portable electronic device placed in data communication with the data interface; and a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed: generate a first digitized representation of speech received from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the digitized representation relating to a desired action which the user wishes to perform; and cause, based at least in part on the first digitized representation, access of at least one remote server via the data bus and wireless network interface to cause performance of the desired action; receive information obtained via the access of the at least one remote server via the data bus; and provide at least a portion of the received information to the portable electronic device via the data interface; and wherein: the data bus comprises a bus compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and the communication between at least the data processing apparatus and the wireless network interface is conducted at least in part over a wireline connection between the USB-compliant bus and a data bus in communication with the wireless interface; the display device comprises a capacitive touch screen input and display device; and the at least one computer program is further configured to cause display of a plurality of soft function keys or icons associated with respective ones of a plurality of topical areas on the display device, such that the user can touch corresponding areas of the touch screen input display device display so as to select the respective topical areas associated therewith; and wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to: generate one or more additional digitized representations of speech received from the user, the one or more additional digitized representations enabling the performance of the desired action by providing additional information not present in the first digitized representation, the additional information enabling resolution of one or more ambiguities associated with the first digitized representation; and synthesize one or more audible responses to at least the first digitized representation, at least one of the one or more audible responses being based at least in part on the first digitized representation.
46. Computerized information and display apparatus, comprising: data processing apparatus; a data bus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless network interface, the wireless network interface configured for data communication with at least one network entity; a display device in data communication with the data processing apparatus; a data interface in data communication with the data processing apparatus and configured to transfer data between the computerized information and display apparatus and a portable electronic device placed in data communication with the data interface; and a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed: generate a first digitized representation of speech received from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the digitized representation relating to a desired action which the user wishes to perform; and cause, based at least in part on the first digitized representation, access of at least one remote server via the data bus and wireless network interface to cause performance of the desired action; receive information obtained via the access of the at least one remote server via the data bus; and provide at least a portion of the received information to the portable electronic device via the data interface; and wherein: the data bus comprises a bus compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and the communication between at least the data processing apparatus and the wireless network interface is conducted at least in part over a wireline connection between the USB-compliant bus and a data bus in communication with the wireless interface; the display device comprises a capacitive touch screen input and display device; and the at least one computer program is further configured to cause display of a plurality of soft function keys or icons associated with respective ones of a plurality of topical areas on the display device, such that the user can touch corresponding areas of the touch screen input display device display so as to select the respective topical areas associated therewith; and wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to: generate one or more additional digitized representations of speech received from the user, the one or more additional digitized representations enabling the performance of the desired action by providing additional information not present in the first digitized representation, the additional information enabling resolution of one or more ambiguities associated with the first digitized representation; and synthesize one or more audible responses to at least the first digitized representation, at least one of the one or more audible responses being based at least in part on the first digitized representation. 51. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 46 , wherein: at least the data processing apparatus, display device, data interface, and the storage apparatus are disposed within a first structure, and at least the wireless network interface is disposed in a second structure, the first and second structures being physically separate from one another; the data bus comprises a bus compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) serialized data protocol; and the communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless network interface comprises communication via the data bus and a wired communication path between the data bus in the first structure and the second structure.