I headed into San Francisco today, bound for the offices of Six Apart, where OpenIDDevCamp is being held.
OpenID is an open protocol that allows people to login to websites using a single digital identity, eliminating the need to create another account at each new site you visit. It’s a relatively new technology, and not yet widely deployed, but it is gaining traction.
OAuth was another topic of interest at the event. A separate but related protocol, it specifies how sites grant authorization to other sites that wish to utilize services. Combined with OpenID, some interesting things become possible.
For example, imagine accessing Google Calendar and Travelocity using the same ID. Since the two accounts are linked, when you book a flight, Travelocity can automatically add your flight times to your calendar.
These technologies open up new possibilities for developers and designers to create applications that better server people. Things are still in the early stages, and events like this are important first steps.
