Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is what we would do in a lockdown situation if the internet went out. We've grown very dependent on the internet for communicating our needs to each other, and if it went out, I worry people would not be able to get their needs met without resorting to the old analog ways that we haven't relied on for a long time.
When the Hong Kong protests started, protesters were using Bridgefy[0] to create an ad-hoc bluetooth mesh network to route messages to one another. I think it might be interesting to apply this idea for bartering.
The idea would be something like: you list items/services that you have/provide and items/services that you want/need. As you navigate out in the world, your phone can connect to people around you via the P2P bluetooth routing network and share your needs as well as exploring your peers needs. Each peer would store your information, and you would store each peers information, for later propagation to other peers.
The end goal would be to be matched up directly with a peer who has something you need, with you having something they need. Or, being matched indirectly with a chain of peers for which the resulting exchanges would lead to the desired outcome.
Is there any merit in this idea?
0. https://www.bridgefy.me/
