Students from the Berlin University of the Arts created a roadtrip game that goes way beyond backseat bingo. The game, called Carcade! takes the world around you and translates it into a computer game that you play right in the car.

(Passengers only, naturally. Drivers will have to wait until someone else takes over the wheel if they want to play too!)

The game uses a webcam that attaches to the passenger side mirror, facing forward, while being plugged in to a laptop inside the car. Using camera tracking software on the laptop, the webcam takes the scenery of the road and passes it into the game.

From there, the player inside the car plays a game involving a spaceship that must dodge obstacles that are created from the environment outside the car. The faster the driver goes, the more challenging the game becomes, so clearly street driving would be the novice level, while highway driving would be for the experts.

Check out this video to see the whole thing:

Obviously, we’re not talking stunning graphics like you’ll see in top-notch games, but this isn’t about graphics – this is about a unique game that takes real life and turns it into an arcade. If that doesn’t make your long road trip a little less boring, I don’t know what will!

Would you try Carcade! out if it becomes available? I know I would!

(source: Engadget via psfk.com

Post from: Geeky Traveller

However, the project is expected to run in at $95 MILLION. Seriously. And that will only cover about one quarter of the city’s overall parking spots. Seems more than a little pricey. I’m not sure that many cities would rush to follow suit with that sort of budget.

What do you think? It seems like a neat idea, but it’s way expensive and I can’t help but envision a group of psychotic drivers with cell phones in hand, all racing for the same lone spot.

(source – Chip Chick // Photo – sxc.hu)

Post from: Geeky Traveller

Now someone has come up with a concept device called the iHitch. It would combine a cell phone, GPS device, and a payment method (similar, I would assume, to PayPal where you can pay a token fee to the driver willing to pick you up). You would enter in your current location and the destination you have in mind. Meanwhile, a driver would then respond if they were going your way – or at least part of the way, and you could confirm whether you were both comfortable.

The iHitch would work with a rating system similar to that of eBay’s methods, where you can rate both the driver picking you up and the person hitching. If the person is creepy or a poor driver, you would rate lower, whereas a friendly, courteous person would get a higher rating.

I don’t know if such a thing would ever get made, but the concept is interesting to say the least. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with “iHitching, but someone might be. Would you?

(source // photo – sxc.hu)

Post from: Geeky Traveller

This is just a fantastic concept, something that combines my geeky nature, my love of camping, and my go-green tendencies. Verdier has created a concept camper that uses hybrid driving capabilities and solar power for the camper. It uses an on-board computer and GPS device to figure out the best place to position the camper’s “Sun Tracker” which then pulls in solar power to operate.

What a fantastic idea. They’re speculating on about $69K if they ever get them onto an assembly line.

I love that it uses solar power, more of our devices should operate that way. And be still my heart, that GPS-calculated tracker for the sun is just brilliant. Talk about optimizing your power!

I’d definitely try one of these!

(source // product photo)

Post from: Geeky Traveller

This concept is called Ticketime and here’s how it would work – it’s a boarding pass for getting on a plane, train or bus, similar to our old-fashioned fuddy-duddy tickets. It is, in fact made of paper but it’s electronic paper. It contains two tiny magnets that allow you to wear the boarding pass around your wrist. big deal, right? What makes that any different from those neon plastic bracelets you get at amusement parks and carnivals?

That makes it different is that it’s also a watch. The time is set to whichever time zone you’re heading to. If you’re traveling within a small area that might not be exciting but it would be handy if you’re flying overseas and crossing several time zones in one trip.

Once you collect your pass/watch, you keep it with you throughout the trip, wearing it as often as you’d like, and then you return it at the end of your trip once you check in to head home.

Nice touch – the strips are recyclable so you’re not adding to waste problems.

What do you think? I like this idea. It’s not pretty or anything – it would never compete with a nice Rolex. But it’s only a concept, they may beautify it if they actually create this.

(source // product photo)

Post from: Geeky Traveller