Cursive Connections - Rachel Summary

Video

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Summary

Cursive is exploring how cryptography can be used to foster human connections through a series of experiments culminating in the Cursive Connections app demonstrated at Edge City Lanna. The app utilizes NFC wristbands to securely collect digital signatures when people meet, visualizing these connections as a “flower garden”. By leveraging private set intersection, users can discover common interests while preserving privacy. Novel features like “narrowcasting” allow users to signal availability for activities or hiring, getting matched when mutual interests align.

The “super connector” concept enables introductions between people with overlapping goals through an intermediary who has met both parties. Narrowcasting requests have adjustable visibility, requiring consent before revealing identities. Multiple NFC devices can represent different personas across communities.

While still evolving, the app aims to facilitate meaningful in-person connections through serendipitous matching using privacy-preserving cryptography. Early demos show visualizations of users’ social graphs and matching based on static traits, with planned expansions to real-time activity coordination and hiring.

Key Takeaways

• Cursive is pioneering privacy-preserving cryptographic techniques like private set intersection to facilitate human networking and spontaneous connections
• Their Connections app, using NFC wristbands, allows visualizing one’s “social garden” of met people and discovering common interests privately
• Novel “narrowcasting” enables signaling availability for activities or hiring, getting matched when mutual interests align
• The “super connector” concept leverages intermediaries to introduce people with overlapping goals
• Multiple NFC devices can represent different personas across communities
• Early demos show promise, with planned expansions to real-time coordination and job matching while preserving privacy
• Incentivizing widespread adoption and creating compelling user experiences are key challenges going forward

Speakers

• Rachel
• Designer at Cursive
• Expertise in exploring novel applications of cryptography for social connection
• Presented Cursive’s experiments, hypothesis, and Connections app demo
• Althea (inferred)
• Introduced Rachel as the presenter
• Role/affiliation not specified