You could argue that the main problem with domains is their exposure to end users; they are essentially an implementation detail of a protocol. Since they are

You could argue that the main problem with domains is their exposure to end users; they are essentially an implementation detail of a protocol. Since they are relatively simple to type on desktop computers, they've worked well for a long time. Now, finally, with touch displays, they may be called out for being too cumbersome. The problem to solve is not the look of domain names, but authentication. How do you know that you've reached the "real" web site for a product or service or group? If you could know that in some other way, you wouldn't necessarily need to see an ugly domain name. I could imagine something much more interactive. For instance, an app that lets you first specify your favorite products and services, that can then pop up a grid of touchable corporate logos to bring you directly to the correct web sites (no URLs needed). The existing DNS registry could be used to either figure out what you need, or give you a short list of choices. In time, apps like these would become so standard that you wouldn't "need" to register all permutations of a trademark, because they would already be choosing the correct one.