14 DAY TRIAL // Google has unveiled the code for its open source Physical Web standard, which seeks to provide an easier way to communicate with devices that are publicly connected, such as vending machines, posters and even bus stops.
“The Physical Web is an approach to unleash the core superpower of the web: interaction on demand. People should be able to walk up to any smart device - a vending machine, a poster, a toy, a bus stop, a rental car - and not have to download an app first. Everything should be just a tap away,” reads the description.
The company considers that this is important because the number of smart devices is soon going to explode and the assumption that each new device will require its own app isn’t realistic. Instead, Google believes there’s a need for a system that lets anyone interact with any device at any time.
“The Physical Web isn’t about replacing native apps: it’s about enabling interaction when native apps just aren’t practical,” Google writes.
The company states that the reason it got involved in this project is because there’s a need for an open standard that everyone can use and that’s basically free. The fact that Google has gotten involved in the Internet of Things business by purchasing Nest and Dropcam isn’t mentioned, but it obviously plays a big role in helping Google decide to work on the Physical Web.
“Once any smart device can have a web address, the entire overhead of an app seems a bit backward. The Physical Web approach unlocks tiny use cases that would never be practical,” the company writes.
Practical uses for the system
Google goes on explain that a bus stop could tell you when the next bus arrives, or parking meters and vending machines will let you pay quickly and easily because they all work the same. Furthermore, Google dreams that any store, no matter how small, can offer an online experience when you walk in thanks to the Internet of Things.
Now that the documentation is out there, Google hopes this will allow for some discussions and feedback so the project can be improved and changed where needed.
The system currently supports Bluetooth Low energy, but other wireless broadcast methods might be added in the future.
There’s also an Android app that can detect URLs broadcast by various devices by keeping track of beacons in the background and showing a list of nearby devices when open. An iOS app is also in the works.