The creation of open APIs is one of the core concepts advocated by the Web of Things community. However, drastically open APIs to the basic functional components of physical devices are only found in research projects and seem to not yet find favor with a wider audience. With this paper, I would like to initiate a discussion about the value of open APIs for the producers and users of smart devices, and for society as a whole: How can manufacturers be motivated to outfit their products with open APIs? How can consumers be educated about the benefits of not being locked into manufacturer ecosystems? And might the decision of opening up a device API even be subject to antitrust law?
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Start page
8
End page
10
Event Title
Proceedings of the Eighth International Workshop on the Web of Things, WoT 2017, Linz, Austria, October 22, 2017