Re: [PROPOSAL] Verifiable Credentials Over Wireless

Hi Manu, support this effort. Let me know if you can use editorial help. 
My other recent hats are networking and a bit further removed wireless 
communications (including amateur extra class license N60TJ).

Cheers

Greg B.

On 7/5/25 12:54 PM, Manu Sporny wrote:

> This is a new Work item proposal for the CCG:
>
> https://github.com/w3c-ccg/community/issues/251
>
> The "Verifiable Credentials over Wireless" specification establishes a
> number of wireless protocols that can be used to request and present
> verifiable credentials over electromagnetic communication devices such
> ones supporting Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low
> Energy (BLE).
>
> ## Include Link to Abstract or Draft
>
> https://digitalbazaar.github.io/vc-wireless/

>
> ## List Owners
>
> The following individuals (and organizations) are contributors on the
> technology:
>
> * Manu Sporny / Digital Bazaar (@msporny)
> * Brian Becker / California Office of Emergency Services (@oes-beckerb),
> * Tracy Korsmo / North Dakota Information Technology
> * Nathan Rao / WCapra (@nraocapra)
> * David Ezell / Conexxus (@dezell)
>
> ## Work Item Questions
>
>> Answer the following questions in order to document how you are meeting the requirements for a new work item at the W3C Credentials Community Group. Please note if this work item supports the Silicon Valley Innovation program or another government or private sector project.
> ### 1. Explain what you are trying to do using no jargon or acronyms.
>
> We are trying to make it possible to transmit and receive W3C
> Verifiable Credentials when there is no access to the Internet or the
> Web. There are a variety of use cases where this is desired, such as
> lack of a stable Internet data connection (rural area or disaster
> situation), transmission to/from embedded devices with no Internet
> connectivity (such as a security gate or at a retail point of sale),
> or where transmission over the Internet is not desired for privacy
> reasons.
>
> ### 2. How is it done today, and what are the limits of the current practice?
>
> Currently, W3C Verifiable Credentials are transmitted over the
> Internet/Web or via QR Code. There is no standardized, high-bandwidth
> mechanism to transmit W3C Verifiable Credentials.
>
> ### 3. What is new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
>
> The "new" approach isn't novel, it has just been a technology gap to
> date. This specification is intended to close that gap.
>
> ### 4. How are you involving participants from multiple skill sets and
> global locations in this work item? (Skill sets: technical, design,
> product, marketing, anthropological, and UX. Global locations: the
> Americas, APAC, Europe, Middle East.)
>
> We are incubating the work in the open, in a diverse and global group
> (the CCG). We are also engaging first responder agencies and personnel
> in multiple US states including California, North Dakota, and Florida
> and performing live pilot exercises in 2025 with the technology in
> various simulated disaster scenarios, with real people using the
> technology to send and receive W3C Verifiable Credentials. We are also
> trailing the technology in the retail sector, for retail use cases.
>
> This work is partially funded by the the National Association of
> Convenience Stores digital wallet initiative and the US Department of
> Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate focusing on
> digital credential technologies for First Responders and survivors of
> disasters.
>
> ### 5. What actions are you taking to make this work item accessible
> to a non-technical audience?
>
> We are presenting the technology at various first responder
> conferences, to first responder agencies and personnel, in the retail
> sector, and making examples and demos available in the VC Playground
> and digital wallets so that people can try out the technology and see
> if it works for them.
>
> We are looking for additional people that either 1) support the
> technology because they have additional use cases, or 2) are
> interested in being an Editor on the specification. If you fall into
> either of these categories, please let the mailing list know.
>
> Please express your support for this specification here:
>
> https://github.com/w3c-ccg/community/issues/251

>
> -- manu
>
-- 
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Dr. Greg M. Bernstein, https://www.grotto-networking.com


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