Technology

We map our runs, capture our calories, monitor our heart rates, so why not track our driving?  Well now you can with this awesome little app and dongle combo from Automatic.  Simply plug the dongle into the data port on your car, install the app, synch the two and  watch as your daily drive is scrutinized for driving flaws and then visualized in an easy to understand dashboard.  This isn’t the first time brands or start-up have started fuse driving and data together.  VW recently announced Smilage, their take on what driving a Volkswagen should feel like.  Before that Toyota experimented with a glass of water as an app mechanic to promote better driving.

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Part of Google’s Art, Copy & Code Project and following quickly on the heals of the its talking shoe, VW have partnered with the technology giant to release Volkswagen Smileage, a social app that connects with your car and tracks your road trip for you.  If you happen to pass another VW sporting Smileage then you get punched, weird choice of words, and can collect stickers as well.  When the road trip dust has settled the app calculates you Smileage, a customer currency much like Nike’s Fuel Points.  It looks awesome and maybe its these kind of brand hacks and experiences that can push a little life into Google+.

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This has to be one of my favourite Chrome Experiments to date.  Super Sync Sports is a multiplayer experience where up to 4 friends can compete in running, swimming and cycling on a shared computer screen, using their smartphones or tablets as game controllers.  Well worth checking it out here.

More Google goodness can be found here

Gaming and beer have been a natural combination since the first pool table made its way into a bar.  Over time the technology changed but the primal allure of beer fuelled competition remained the same.  Unfortunately for the world these two powerhouses only co-existed.  That was until Big Boss Brewing brought them together creating the ultimate male pass-time  the Beercade machine powered by ‘The Last Barfighter’.  It’s pretty simple, the quarters have been replaced with cups and after an epic battle of button bashing the victor is awarded a freshly poured beer.  Pure genius!

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The Google Glass train is picking up speed now and why not.  The idea is certainly compelling but will the finished product actually work as seamlessly as the video portrays?  Time will tell, but if you can’t wait until then, then check out the Glass twitter or Google+ pages.  If you’re interested in getting a 1st person view of a glass wearer then check out Google’s latest video.

What do you think?  Cool, ridiculous?  I think charlespennywhacker sums it up quite well!

Interesting starting point from Carona that we inadvertently pollute our beach desktop wallpapers.  The solution a custom wallpaper and icon package that allows anyone to turn those ugly computer folders into starfish, coconuts and dolphins before arranging them all across a beautiful beach scene.  Stumble across a document your not happy with.  Then stick it in the beach trash can!

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Most of the tech and marketing world (especially Google) have been talking about the power of location for yonks.  SoLoMo, geo-fenced messaging, local deals and offers, the list goes on.  But each of these location based initiatives has been small fry.  FourSquare check-in deals was never going to change the conversation on its own.  But maybe thats about to change as Google has evolved its AdWords product to place context/location at its very heart with Enhanced Campaigns.  From today advertisers can set rules and parameters within a campaign which dynamically alters the messaging and call to action based on the device and location.  Imagine searching for pizza on your mobile and being shown the closest pizza joint and phone number, while the exact same search on desktop yields the pizza parlours online ordering system.  Today that has become a reality within a single campaign and by June it will be the standard.  Maybe now location based marketing will finally become the norm.

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It’s worth pointing out that I am unofficially the greatest Goldeneye multiplayer player in the world.  Put an N64 trident pad thing in my hand, suit me up as a Moonraker Elite trooper, select one shot kills and drop me in the temple map and I’m highly likely to emerge victorious!  Aside from that here’s a funky little video charting the history of Nintendo.

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Equal parts weird and weirder.  To promote Subaru’s collision avoidance technology called ‘Eyesight’ the motor manufacturer attached the safety tech to hundreds of miniature Suby’s.  Then in a stroke of genius/weirdness each car was fitted out with a musical note that it played repeatedly while in motion.  All that was left to do after all the techno-jiggery was to release the minicars inside a warehouse…with awesome results.

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I recently bought a Nike+ Fuel Band and am already a massive fan.  In the week or so I’ve been using it, its motivated me to get off the couch and pound the pavement a few times and I even braved the rain on Christmas Day just to hit my NikeFuel goal.  To add even more inspiration, motivation or competition to the concept Nike have now released ‘NikeFuel Missions‘.  A gamified experience built on a series of challenges (missions) that promote movement and exercise.  I’ve signed up and will be looking to crush the first mission, ‘Vortex’ tomorrow morning so if you have a FuelBand sign up here and get involved.

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