Comm.unity

Comm.unity is a platform implementing a wireless, device-to-device information system that bypasses the need for centralized servers, coordination, or administration. A key feature of this platform is the fact that it combines knowledge, awareness and learning of the user's social relationships and integrates this information into the communication protocols and network services. Comm.unity is designed to work on as many devices as possible, and with as many different radios as possible (WiFi, Bluetooth, IR, etc.).

How might communities use it?
People could go on a trip and createan ad-hoc group with those they happen to be traveling with. Any picture anyone takes could be immediately distributed to all of the group’s devices.

Strangers could chat on the plane, or a friend sitting ten rows in front of them in a lecture hall.

People could be notified when friends and family are nearby.

More globally, it could act a communication system for emergencies and disaster scenarios, which allows news and critical information to be distributed among people in the area without the need for existing infrastructure (which is likely to be down...).

It could be a system for professional or civic journalists operating under oppressive regimes.

All of this would be done for free, no service charges, over an open platform that would allow any developer to enhance and add new features and applications.

At what stage of development is it?
Comm.unity is in development and is perhaps the most technically challenging project at the Center, involving complete rewrites of low-level communications technology. Next steps include releasing an open source toolkit API for rapid development of close proximity communication and social applications; expanding the number and types of devices that can run Comm.unity. Currrently working to get full functionality on Nokia S60 phones; creating a fully usable end-user application on top of comm.unity; and testing it around MIT campus.