AR Interoperability Opportunities

Author’s note: I’d like to update these lists and create formal specs, so email me if you’ve got time or ideas.

Do you want Facebook on your face? Do you want Google controlling what you notice? Do you want Apple in your eyes?

Netscape’s reincarnation is nigh. We’re forging the future today.

In my opinion, a wet web controlled by AOL/FB/Yelp/Google/Apple will be bad for everybody. This is a call to create open platforms.

AR Signage

Worst case:

Private companies maintain incompatible platforms for displaying 2D/3D objects at particular world coordinates.
All virtual objects are locked to particular hardware manufacturers.
Content from large corporations gets preferential treatment over everybody else.
Ads are baked into the OS; they cannot be disabled.
Users have no feedback mechanism for AR signage that is harmful, misleading, annoying, or outdated.
Ad engagement is tracked at the biological level by using motion and gaze detection.

Best case:

RSS-like feeds of 2D/3D objects at particular world coordinates.
Each feed acts as different public/private layer of objects that everybody subscribed can see. These display automatically without needing interaction.
Google will provide a curated Google Maps layer, but you can just as easily opt for the OpenStreetMaps layer.
A business can paste a digital sign in their window by joining a variety of different networks.
AR signage comes with a interoperable tagging/categorization system to filter signs by context (e.g. navigation vs. shopping).
Feeds may be supported by subscriptions, donations, or ads. Much like podcasts, you can choose feeds you want to engage with.
AR signage is accessible by default, regardless of language or disabilities.
Community-driven moderation and reporting systems to maintain the integrity and accuracy of digital signage.

Virtual Clothing/Accessories

Worst case:

Your location is broadcast to the world in perpituity.
Expression is limited at the OS-level to “protect children”.
Lack of authenticity system causes draconian DMCA-like policies and restricted platforms.

Best case:

Cryptographically signed outfit definitions can be published and cached across the globe.
Standardized outfit definitions can be created, allowing for the seamless sharing of virtual clothing and accessories.
Accessories have certificate chains to easily verify authenticity. Trademarks needn’t be enforced because certificates can’t be forged.
Fungible and non-fungible items coexist.

Video Chats

Worst case:

Incompatible platforms create vendor/platform lock-in.
Non-open standards force unencrypted traffic to be routed through a select number of centralized servers.
Inbound calls are unconfigurable, leading to rampant spam.

Best case:

Phone numbers are replaced by something like email handles or the AT Protocol.
Arbitrary avatars and filters can be integrated via plugins.

FOV Signalling

Headphones physically signal to people that you are not listening to your environment.

When AR headsets obstruct your vision, we need a common way of signalling that you are not visually engaged with your surroundings. We need the visual equivalent of “headphones on”.

For example, somebody deep into an AR spreadsheet program could publicly display to others as blindfolded.

Worst case:

No signaling whatsoever causes strangers to stare at you without actually looking at you.
Inconsistent signalling strategies breed awkwardness and miscommunication.
Course signalling doesn’t deliver nuances of partially-obstructed vision.
Overly-specific signalling comprimises privacy of active apps and content.

Best case:

AR/VR devices broadcast when they are obstructing others’ vision without comprimising privacy.