I'm trying to build a hardware device that isn't connected to the internet, but still exposes a configuration UI without the need for an external app.
It's an obvious capability that can exist but doesn't, because the market prefers a more exploitable interface. The apps used to connect to our hardware have essentially unlimited permission to track our interactions, send data home, or, most annoyingly, stop working altogether.
- communicate point to point with other devices
- using standard web technologies
- opt in to external network access
- with no app stores or other middle men
Here's the user experience I'm imagining:
- User taps an NFC point or scans a QR code.
- OS prompts the user: "Connect to some_device?"
- Default browser appears and loads the UI directly from some_device.
- If the UI code attempts an outside connection, prompt: "Allow some_device would like to access the internet."
The most common pattern I see is devices exposing a Wi-Fi access point that I can then connect to and configure via a captive portal. This technically works, but feels hacky.
This is a space I want to learn more about and experiment in. I think peer-to-peer device communication keeps services alive longer, and is critical to ownership and long-term reliability for digital devices.