ldopa.net » archive » ambient addition:

“Ambient Addition” is Noah Vawter’s thesis experiment with sound; it’s a iPod-sized device that records and loops the sounds of the world around the listener.

It's worth checking it out on the New Scientist Podcast, as you can hear examples of real noise and then the music that is generated.

New Scientist Technology Blog: Welcome to Google Planet:

Rumours are circulating that Google is developing an online virtual world, like much-hyped Second Life, using its satellite image programme Google Earth.

If true, this would be an amazing convergence of parallel technologies. I guess there's only one earth in geological terms, and all the satellite data being used as the basis would mean that you've got to stick with the evolving cities and infrastructure of the real world.

However, what makes it interesting is if you plug in your cellphone GPS location into this system. That way, you could have a real time representation of where you and your buddies are, as you are exploring the real world, overlaid onto where you actually are.

Then, taking the data from Sketchup, and combining it with something a little more like Photosynth, you would be able to increase the accuracy of the placement of each photo as you would already have the 3D models to work from, and you could increase the character of the models by using the Photosynth photos as textures.

You then have a scalable architecture for augmented reality.

Advertising screen tailors ads to its audience - tech - 12 September 2006 - New Scientist Tech:

A smart advertising display monitors Bluetooth gadgets in its vicinity, ensuring audiences see only the most appropriate ads, with minimal repeats.

The display detects the presence of devices fitted with Bluetooth wireless transmitters carried by people walking past, such as cellphones and PDAs. Software agents then "bid" against one another to determine which adverts are then shown to those viewers.

i guess that this is the first step towards the hologram billboards in minority report, but it seems to be a reasonable system, the main advantage of which is that i don't have to see the same adverts so often.

it's definitely easier than having to overlay adverts on an augmented reality heads up display!