Google engineers have developed the Web Audio API, which enables cross-device communication.

As the number of smart devices around us continues to grow, the coordination and interconnection between multiple devices has become a significant challenge. There are several existing interconnection technologies, such as Bluetooth, WiFi Direct, and NFC. However, the issue lies in the fact that these technologies are not mutually compatible. For example, if Device A supports Bluetooth and Device B only supports NFC, connecting the two becomes difficult.

A Google engineer named Boris came up with a solution. Since speakers and microphones are practically standard features on most devices, he decided to use ultrasonic waves to transmit information and pair devices. This concept is not entirely new; for instance, Chirp and Alipay's sound wave payment system also utilize sound to transmit signals. However, Boris's solution is based on the Web Audio API and leverages browsers, eliminating the need to download native applications. He conducted two small experiments: one involved sending emoticons from a phone to a computer, while the other matched devices and then sent messages via the cloud.

The advantage of Boris's approach lies in the openness of the web. It doesn't require waiting for Bluetooth or other near-field communication methods to evolve to support web platforms. Using current technology, it allows any two devices capable of accessing the internet via a browser to connect and pair. Once connected, subsequent communication doesn't necessarily have to continue using ultrasonic waves, as this method can be inefficient due to potential detours. Direct communication through the cloud would be more efficient.