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Interesting from a technical point of view. But the real problem to solve here is buried in this throwaway at the end, and it even suggests that this is entirely the wrong tech for the job:

> So the way I see auraphone working at an event, you walk around and mingle as normal but yeah every one has their phone out and running the app but ONLY this app. You are still present and in the conversation not just looking at other distractions from your phone.

What is so magic about this app that it will make your phone not be a distraction? And how do you get everyone to download a new app? And if you can get them to do that, why not just exchange the info through a normal server? Then you could literally just tell the app which event you’re at (and sure, use Bluetooth for that, but a QR code or even just a link would probably work better) and then they don’t need to walk around with the app open.

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bluetooth proves you were physically there. also no cell tower or wifi issues. this app purposely has no backend! truly decentralized. If i used a normal server I would have to just trust the gps sent? And even if I could trust that, bluetooth lets me know who is closet within feet. The list of devices shows you by who is at the top, who you are nearest.

It is a chicken and egg problem for sure. Will enough people install the app and will people keep it open and in foreground often enough. I need real event with like 100 people to test :)

Why would you want to give out your contact info to people you didn’t engage with?

The business card is more than just an exchange of phone numbers.

well which specific piece, your instagram username is very different than your phone number right? And depends on the event. Is it speed-dating or tech conference? You can chose what to broadcast. If you are at the event, you have some goal of who you want to meet. Long term in the app I want to let you give more info about that and then filter the list for you. Help you find your people.

I understand all this, but it still feels like a solution in search of a problem. Why does it matter that it is decentralized? There are simpler ways to reasonably prove you were there. Scan a QR code taped to the wall, use a WiFi beacon, get a unique code, tap a link in their invitation, ticket, whatever else is used as admission, or use Bluetooth for that matter. But exchanging the data by Bluetooth and requiring everyone to have their phones out, and thinking that it won’t be a distraction for some reason… that’s the part I don’t understand.

Well having no backend is also a cost thing. I can scale this to millions and my fees are still just $99 a year for ios app developer program and $25 for google playstore.

And at crowded events cell towers and wifi do have problems.

Someone can send a picture of the QR code to someone not at the event. With BLE and no backend I get that 100% assurance I was actually in the room with this phone, our phones talked, and I even know how many feet away that person is in real time.

No backend cost is a benefit for you, not for your users.

Walking around with your phone out with an app open is inconvenient and a distraction, and a battery drain. Downloading a special app just for this is already too much friction unless the event requires it or the benefit is very tangible. But in most people’s minds, the benefit would be very hypothetical, and you need to get nearly everyone at the event to do it for anyone to continue to try to do it, I think. I don’t see how it’s going to work, other than at conferences where the attendees are perhaps already interested in this exact problem space and find it interesting to try.

well it benefits the users if the backend never goes down!

And in this case, it can't by definition of not existing.

I think it depends a lot on the event. I would do all this at a 222.place after party if it placed me into buckets with the people I'm looking to meet.