BlueMesh is a library for use with Android Bluetooth enable devices which creates and maintains a Bluetooth mesh network.
Why is this important?
Since smart phones and other smart devices such as tablets became popular, they have slowly been becoming more and more powerful. Now these devices have the capabilities of many other not so versatile devices such as GPS. Bluetooth is one of these technologies that we have on our phones, but rarely use for more than transferring files or connecting our hands free headsets. I think that Bluetooth can be used for much more (and so did the developers because it allows a master device to be connected to 8 slaves at once!).
What are the problems with Bluetooth?
The most obvious problem with Bluetooth is the range. The range of a Bluetooth connection is generally limited to 10-15 feet. This makes it hard to use Bluetooth as a general means of data transfer. Bluetooth is generally referred to as a means of creating a PAN or Personal Area Network and used to transfer data from a phone to a PC or headset. I however believe that the definition of PAN is more than the devices I have around me. When I am in my house or in public, generally there are other people with their own devices in my personal area, so why shouldn't I be able to include them in my PAN? This is the main focus of BlueMesh, having multiple people with multiple devices communicating over "PAN" via Bluetooth.
Why BlueMesh?
It all comes back to the problem regarding the range of Bluetooth devices. Because there is such a short range, direct connections between multiple devices in a network is impractical. Also because people like to get up and walk around, a static network would also be impractical. What is needed is a network with some form of routing so that connectivity can be ensured among all devices in the network, and a means to establish, break, and maintain connections between devices in order to maintain connectivity of the network.
What does BlueMesh have that WiFi or 3G/4G does not?
Even though the data transfer rate is slower via Bluetooth, BlueMesh has a few things that make it a formidable opponent to communications via the internet. The first is connectivity to the internet; BlueMesh simply requires two or more Bluetooth enabled devices to be close enough together, it does not rely on connectivity to the internet or external servers. If I wanted to play a game like Words with Friends over BlueMesh, it would be hosted locally on the devices and communications would be direct between the devices as opposed to having to connect each device to the internet and play a game which is reliant on an server.
Another benefit is the social implication of BlueMesh, I believe it will bring more social interaction into the smart device medium which is a big objective these days. In contrast to adding chat windows or comment boxes to applications, BlueMesh brings all of its users into the same room and gives the ability for developers to be more creative in their use of these devices. For instance, an internet poker game consists of looking at a graphic of a poker table with pictures of your friends in each seat. A BlueMesh poker game could consist of everyone sitting around a table holding their devices which display their own hand and chips and a tablet in the center of the table with the face up cards and the pot.
BlueMesh will introduce new ways to develop for smart devices and enable greater social interactions. Please leave comments and questions, and I will be posting a link the the repository soon. :)
Jerry
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