Pi Network Apps Platform Prototype

Pi Apps Platform Prototype
Our previous video series explained that the project has two goals in Pi Phase Two: 1) Building value and 2) Decentralizing the network. Building Pi’s application platform is a major strategy to achieve the first goal: building value. We aim to deliver the beta version of the apps platform by the end of the Q2 2020. Now, we are giving an update on how we plan to achieve that during the Q2.

We are adopting an iterative user-centric design methodology, which involves prototyping, testing, feedback collecting and improving of the platform. During Q2 2020, the Core Team will prototype and test the Pi Apps platform and initial Pi applications (Pi Apps). This means that the interfaces, functionalities and accessibility of the platform and initial apps will change over the course of this prototyping and testing period before being finalized. We will have time-limited releases of such prototypes for the community to test use and give feedback, and the prototypes and the initial apps may be taken down after testing for revision and get released again.

To support third-party apps, the Core Team will need to build the infrastructure that allows third-party integration into the Pi Network mobile application as well as Pi transfers integration into their apps. To transfer Pi to the third-party applications, Pioneers will need to pass KYC, but every Pioneer can use the functionalities of these apps that don’t involve sending Pi; for example, utility functionalities or receiving Pi from those apps do not require KYC. To build a pipeline of Pioneers ready to test the platform and initial Pi Apps, we will also be expanding KYC in the next few weeks.

As part of the prototyping and testing, we will release the first prototype of the apps platform to our community very soon, which includes Pi’s first third-party application. Recently, we were approached by a Stanford professor with an application that helps the world better predict where new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) are developing and help discover which symptoms are most indicative of the COVID 19 while preserving individual privacy. As a global pandemic, COVID 19 has affected all corners of the world, and its pandemic nature calls for a global coordinated response, which Pi proudly will be able to assist. Pi transcends borders and Pioneers come from all countries in the world. Given the distribution of our global community, Pi Network is uniquely positioned to contribute to the fight against COVID 19. Given the importance of tackling this disease and the alignment with Pi’s value of bringing people together from all over the world, we’ve decided to choose this as the first third-party app in the initial prototype release of Pi’s Apps Platform.

This first app will allow members of the Pi community and others to contribute information about what, if any, symptoms they are experiencing, while preserving the privacy of the individual. Pi will not share any data about Pioneers with this COVID 19 app, except for their Pi username which is necessary for processing any in-app transfers of Pi and will be only shared with explicit consent by the Pioneer; Any data you submit inside the COVID 19 app will not be shared with Pi. Indeed, this first app is using a novel privacy-preserving technology to make sure even the app itself will not know the concrete symptoms you submit, and it does not collect any personal identifiable data. The specific technology will be introduced and explained by the creators of the app in a video on our home screen very soon when we release the initial prototype of Pi Apps platform. Stay tuned!