110 Stories

110 Stories imposes an outline view of the Twin Towers on the NYC skyline using augmented reality.

Based on your location, the app offers a glimpse back of how the towers figured into the cityscape from multiple vantage points. The app also encourages people to comment and share their memories and impressions of the augmented skyline.

The project, from artist Brian August, reached its goal on Kickstarter just in time for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

Read more about it here: http://kck.st/nIyEjN

Try this on for size

A fun round-up of wearable electronics ranging from utterly silly to sleek and innovative:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/06/is-the-rise-of-wearable-electronics-finally-here.html   (via MAKE)

Also, another great collection here from Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1773462/smart-couture-wearable-tech-gets-wearable

Mobile Payments

We’ve been talking about the future of this a lot lately, and here’s a nice little infographic that sums up mobile payment growth and the overall landscape.

Mostly correct but American Express’ Serve supports Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and debit cards.

https://www.gplus.com/Mobile-Payments/Article/INFOGRAPHIC-Goodbye-Wallets-How-Mobile-Payments

Contributed by Collin Whitehead

Virtual shopping in subway stations

The South Korean version of the supermarket chain Tesco installed virtual stores in subway stations as a way to provide more shopping opportunities for busy, smartphone-handy commuters. Shoppers browse 2D displays of groceries, scan a QR code to select items and complete their purchase all on their phone. The supermarket then delivers their goods by the time they arrive at home.

Watch a case study here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJVoYsBym88

In this case, mobile is not only affecting shopping habits in stores, but also allowing for the whole shopping experience to be recreated virtually and on-the-go.

Contributed by James Taylor

Via Laughing Squid

Tiny Riot

A digital tool for letting out your frustration — just grab your iPhone, hold it tight and shake your fist!!!

These guys (formerly featured on the blog here: http://gspdigital.com/create-your-own-is-parade/) made the app, in their words, “as a way to release for our frustration with the uncertainty of post 3.11 Japan.” Check it out more here: tinyriot.jp

Contributed by Tomohiko Hayashi

An Augmented Reality nod to the (cinematic) past

A number of cool augmented reality apps have sprouted up recently that infuse the modern day street perspective with winks to the past — for instance, the Museum of London’s StreetMuseum app.

A similar app, Augmented Reality Cinema, pulls on the heartstrings of cinephiles, playing scenes from famous movies at the location where they were filmed in London. It’s such a simple idea, but also such a satisfying example of how the mobile technology we carry around with us everywhere can provide playful new ways to see and appreciate our surroundings.

Via Laughing Squid

8-Bit Invader – Video Game Projection Mapping

8-Bit Invaders is just a simulation, but seems like a stellar idea to project a video game on building. Making it playable would be even cooler.

via laughing squid
contributed by Sosia Bert

WOW! World of Fourcraft

What do you get when you combine the mystical World of Warcraft with Foursquare?

World of Fourcraft uses the Google maps API and Foursquare to transform New York into a huge, WOW-inspired, multi-player strategy game fueled by check-ins. New Yorkers: declare your allegiance to a borough today!

As it’s well-put by Mashable, “the nerdverse might just explode.”

Via Mashable

Charge Your Phone with Your T-Shirt

There’s a new solution to a dead phone battery, and you can wear it on your body! That is, if you happen to be at a concert. And also have this crazy weird shirt. But the idea of using live sound waves to charge your phone — in this case, with the Orange Sound Charge T-Shirt — is fun, if a little impractical.

Angry Birds LIVE

It may not be the most innovative idea ever, but this live version of Angry Birds was probably really fun to produce. Plus it’s always interesting to see the translation of an online experience into the physical world — it definitely started a party in Barcelona!

Contributed by Collin Whitehead