Ving: Bootstrapping the Desktop Area Network with a Vibratory Ping

The emergence of the Internet of Things will cause the density of wirelessly networked devices to increase significantly. As the industry and density continue to grow, enabling and managing networks of these devices in a scalable manner without constant user interaction becomes essential. Noting that information about physical context can guide interactions between devices, we introduce the desktop area network and Ving, a vibratory ping architecture that enables it. Ving is based on the wireless vibratory communications channel between a vibratory motor on one device and an accelerometer on another. Because vibratory communications is a physically-coupled, surface-constrained communications domain, Ving allows devices to bootstrap networks within their physical context, creating a literal desktop area network. Such context establishment and network creation enables a new class of applications for smartphones and embedded devices. We present several of these applications, discuss our preliminary implementation of Ving, compare Ving to alternate methods of context establishment, and suggest potential research challenges stemming from the widespread use of Ving.