Connecting the dots

US – Wolff Olins and ZigBee Alliance have created the first open-source language for the Internet of Things (IoT).

• The language can be understood by all connected devices, no matter what the brand
• The design and branding of the language, dotdot, was inspired by the universal characteristics of Morse code

Dotdot is an open language that embodies the unification of the IoT. The ambition of the developers of dotdot, which can connect devices regardless of their brand, is to overcome the communications gap between different network protocols.

The language was inspired by Morse code, and the fact that it is built on linguistic unification. Stylistically, too, dotdot’s identity of circles and rectangles is a reference to the visual grammar of Morse code. The language made its debut at CES, and is the collaborative effort of creative consultancy Wolff Olins and IoT foundation ZigBee Alliance.

‘Wolff Olins has been an exceptional partner for us,’ said Daniel Moneta, chair of the ZigBee Alliance’s marketing work group, in a recent statement. ‘A lot of businesses and designers are intimidated by the complexities and scale of the IoT connectivity challenge, so we needed a courageous and insightful strategic partner to help guide and inspire us.’