Beyond the Interweb
Bob Frankston · IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine · 2020
A discussion of the BangleJS watch is the launching point for a discussion of the need to have networks not be tied to their topologies and hardware. It is argued that once we understand best-efforts and recognize that we do not need special-networks, we are ready to embrace the potential. We get abundant opportunity to innovate. We need stable linkages rather than domain names that expire every year. The IEEE can take a concrete step in that direction by offering names that are stable, like bit.ly does, but for devices. Perhaps an IoT.IEEE domain. We need to pay for the facilities as common infrastructure rather than depending upon a provider making a profit by limiting transport to subscribers in good standing. We need protocols that are transparent rather than ones like Bluetooth. By taking a user-centric view and creating a simple experience we now take video conferencing for granted. Let us heed this lesson and move on rather than be limited by network-centric thinking.