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Wi-Fi Aware Protocol Stakes Out Your Surroundings

posted by cmn32480 on Wednesday July 22 2015, @07:56AM   Printer-friendly
from the use-only-cellular dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Wi-Fi technology has helped bring a world of information to our fingertips via mobile devices, but a new certification program from the Wi-Fi Alliance aims to make the technology a bit more local. The Wi-Fi Aware protocol is designed to extend Wi-Fi's capabilities to improve on current proximity-based functions without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi hotspot or GPS connections.

This new protocol could make applications like multiplayer gaming, close geo-social networking and file sharing fast and secure within a typical Wi-Fi range of 100-150 ft (30-45 m). Airport gates could make your boarding pass automatically appear, or your favourite shop could advertise its specials to you as you walk by.
...
The Wi-Fi Alliance says continuous discovery of compatible devices is made possible without without putting undue strain on battery life, with multiple Wi-Fi Aware devices forming clusters that share a common "heartbeat" signal that contains information about the availability of nearby services.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @09:18AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @09:18AM (#212245)

    Airport gates could make your boarding pass automatically appear, or your favourite shop could advertise its specials to you as you walk by.

    Let an untrusted source - one that is publicly accessible - trigger events on your device? What could possibly go wrong.

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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @09:52AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @09:52AM (#212249)

    Actually already the proposed use is bad enough. The last thing I want is shops to push ads on whatever device I'm using.

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by inertnet on Wednesday July 22 2015, @10:55AM

      by inertnet (4071) on Wednesday July 22 2015, @10:55AM (#212258) Journal

      The next 'improvement' will be that you can't switch off WiFi anymore...

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday July 22 2015, @12:10PM

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 22 2015, @12:10PM (#212277) Journal

        The next 'improvement' will be that you can't switch off WiFi anymore...

        Al-foil's still cheap.

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @04:24PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2015, @04:24PM (#212381)

        This has already happened! Last night I was setting-up a new cell phone for my son (a ZTE Speed with Boost service to try out the Sprint network in our area) and it had a check box in one of the Android setup screens that said something like "Allow Wi-Fi to be used for location even when Wi-Fi is disabled."

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 25 2015, @11:38AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 25 2015, @11:38AM (#213461)

          That it was actually asking means that it can be switched off. You don't have to check that box. It's not that new a feature either, it was introduced in 4.something (I can't remember exactly which version). And it is a useful feature, at least for some people.

  • (Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday July 22 2015, @12:35PM

    by Nerdfest (80) on Wednesday July 22 2015, @12:35PM (#212287)

    Isn't this just an open, non-crippled version of iBeacons? Kind of like WiFiDirectt/AirDrop, except in that case WiFiDirect was first?