This thesis is ultimately about improving both the user and developer (or vendor) experience in information technology. In Chapters 1 and 2 it showed the problems with the industry methods for obtaining consent, from the theoretical basis to the practical implementations of consent mechanisms. In Chapter 3 it developed a new theory of informed consent aimed solely at information technology, taking into account user experiences that are unique to information technology situations. It then, in Chapter 4, examined some possibilities for practical implementation of the theory, including guidelines for developing strong informed consent mechanisms fair to both the user and the developer or vendor. It is this that sets this thesis apart from previous attempts at improving informed consent: instead of attempting to patch the problems while keeping the theory, this thesis developed a pragmatic, usable solution from the ground up with a solid theoretical basis.
Unfortunately no theory is without drawbacks, or need for some further research. In this section I make a couple of points about some inadequacies of the theory presented in Chapter 3, and outline some further research opportunities.