The modern day internet was originally born as a packet switching network (ARPANET) between static terminals back in 1969. Over time, it has evolved immensely in terms of functionality and accessibility, and it forms the backbone for any sort of information exchange and retrieval in today’s age. However, the ability to access the internet through mobile devices is a fairly recent development. Our terminals are no longer static, and we now have the ability to consume information on the move, as our spatial and situational context might demand. While the population which uses mobile internet is steeply rising, the time is ripe to explore alternate possibilities thrown open by the prospect of using location as a non-surrogate parameter for information exchange.

Through this project I explore these possibilities keeping the Indian context in mind. I look at the patterns in mobile information consumption of Indian users, their experiences, preferences, expectations and shortcomings related to the current means of information exchange on the move. How do they obtain the information they desire? How do they create the information they wish to disburse? Is a centralized network format necessarily the optimal means to address their needs and desires?

Based on my research and analysis, I propose mobile-based tools which enable users to create decentralized proximity-bound networks through peer-to-peer connectivity and exploit spatial position as a core criterion for communication and information sharing within their micro network.

Case Study Downloads:
• Applications of Proximity-bound P2P Mobile Networking in the Indian Context - Pdf