Umbrella Here, BitLock and Breather
The Audi Unite initiative (in FAIR SPLITTING above) is a great example of the INTERNET OF SHARING THINGS. Three more:
Shipping in January 2015, Hong Kong-based group Umbrella Here’s USD 28 donut-shaped Bluetooth device fixes onto the top of umbrellas. When it rains, owners can use the companion app to signal (via colored LEDs) to nearby strangers they are willing to share their umbrella.
Reaching its Kickstarter funding target during November 2013, the BitLock smart bike lock verifies a user’s identity via Bluetooth when they are nearby; users simply press a button to unlock the bicycle. The BitLock app also enables users to unlock their bicycle remotely and/or share it with others using the app.
Launched in Q4 2013, and now available in four cities – New York, San Francisco, Montreal, and Ottawa, Breather allows people to find unused urban spaces to rent for as little as 30 minutes, to recharge or work in. After booking, users are granted temporary access to unlock the property via the NFC keyless entry system.