Workshop | 8h30 – 14h30

A unique event looking at the intersection of web innovation, emerging standards for light app technologies, and mobile devices.

Access to the internet, and by extension the web, is a key enabler of human rights, citizen inclusion, knowledge sharing, education, commerce and even government. There are now nearly 2 billion web sites globally, and eCommerce generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Having a web presence is no longer a question, it’s a necessary requirement for today’s digital world.

Since the mid 2000’s there has been an exponential increase in web access from mobile devices fuelled by the rise of smartphones and increasingly affordable, high speed mobile data networks. Mobile native applications have raised the bar for what people expect when interacting with their devices; ubiquitous connectivity, fluid interactivity, rich functionality, and importantly, ease of app acquisition and use.

The shift towards an always on, always connected real-time society, combined with new technologies such as smart homes, smart cities, AR/VR, AI bots, telemedicine and telepresence challenges us. It challenges us to evolve existing global standards and create new ones. It challenges us to combat concerns about data privacy, cyber security, online harassment and more. It challenges us to keep the development process easy and accessible.

Agenda :

08h30 – Welcome coffee
09h15 – Welcome introduction

  • Christian Paterson – Founder and CEO ,Open Up  [Biography]

09h30 – Keynote : Landscape of Web Technologies for Apps

  • Dominique Hazaël-Massieux – Head of DevRel ,W3C [Biography]
    Web Technologies are naturally at the core of Web applications running in browsers (including Progressive Web Apps), but they also form a critical platform for other application ecosystems: the usage of WebViews make them prevalent in many native apps on mobile and desktop alike, and they underpin the MiniApps ecosystem and its 1.4 billion active users. In this presentation, Dom will review and compare how “Web Technologies are naturally at the core of Web applications running in browsers (including Progressive Web Apps), but they also form a critical platform for other application ecosystems: the usage of WebViews make them prevalent in many native apps on mobile and desktop alike, and they underpin the MiniApps ecosystem and its 1.4 billion active users. In this presentation, Dom will review and compare how Web technologies are used across these ecosystems, and highlight opportunities for greater convergence among them.

10h00 – Talk : W3C MiniApp Ecosystem

  • Martin Alvarez-Espinar – Head of Web Standards ,Huawei [Biography]
    MiniApps are light applications designed to perform specific functions within a super-app or platform. These apps are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to simplify complex processes and improve user experience with seamless access and interaction. MiniApps are quickly becoming a must-have feature for any modern platform. The W3C MiniApp Working Group is developing standards and guidelines for creating and implementing MiniApps across multiple platforms and devices. This talk will present the background and current status of the W3C MiniApp specifications, developed collaboratively by industry leaders and stakeholders within the W3C MiniApp Working Group, to shape the future of mobile and web-based applications.

10h30 – Talk : Using Solid to build a data protecting MiniApp ecosystem

  • Alex Bourlier – Co-founder, Startin’blox [Biography]
    EU Regulations such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), both ratified by the European Parliament in July 2022, are pushing for more Data Sovereignty. They specifically impose:
    -Control over our personal data
    -The ability to install apps from the internet
    -The creation of independent app stores
    -Interoperability between apps and core services
    -The ability for apps to use hardware features
    The MiniApps ecosystem is well positioned to meet this new legislative challenge. In this talk, we’ll explore how Data Interoperability and Data Sovereignty can be enhanced among the MiniApps ecosystem by making use of initiatives like the Solid Project, International Data Spaces (IDS) or Gaia-X, with the goal to provide the EU Commission with an ecosystem of apps they can rely on and promote.

11h00 – Break

11h30 – Talk : Emerging Web Technologies: Standards or Open Source?”

  • Simon Phipps – Standards & Policy Director, OSI [Biography]
    After (roughly) a half-century of ICT standardisation and a quarter-century of open source, amazingly they are still being compared and confused by newcomers. What do open source and open standards have in common, and what distinguishes them? In establishing a new web technology, which is more likely to drive acceptance? This talk will suggest some definitions and principles that help answer these questions.”

12h00 – Talk : How can WebXR help you run your own metaverse right there from the browser

  • Fabien Benetou – prototypist, consultant in WebXR for the European Parliament innovation team
    What if we didn’t need anything more than the Web? What if the core components needed for even the most novel experience would “just work” on our favorite medium? In his talk Fabien will demonstrate how an immersive experience can take place directly in the browser we are already so familiar with. It is exciting to explore genuinely novel ways to experience information, and to create links between pieces of knowledge. This unique value creation is only possible when we can efficiently share such content openly. Focusing on the Web ensures that our experiences, immersive or not, remain truly inclusive; helping all, together, to create better! Experience your piece of the metaverse right here, on the Web, on our Web.

12h30 – Talk : WebRTC extravaganza – Standard browser to browser instant communication

  • Romain Vailleux, Partnership & Ecosystem Manager, Apizee [Biography]
    WebRTC has emerged as the standard for browser-to-browser communication, and video conferencing is one of the most commonly cited use cases. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, there has been a surge in demand for synchronous communication tools, and many software editors have rushed to add WebRTC support to their products. In this session, we will explore the possibilities offered by WebRTC, with a particular focus on use cases and applications

13h00 Lunch & networking