History Unwired (another idea takes flight)

As I have pointed out on this blog previously, I have a number of ideas for how portable devices could be used beyond their usual MO's. Specifically, I have focused on mobile educational services and interactive travel guides.

Today, I read this article that shows the idea of providing travel information to MP3 players, cell phones, and PDAs has begun to take flight. Michael Epstein, a researcher at MIT who helped develop the History Unwired project, was quoted as saying, "This kind of guide can lead to a lot of social impact... It can lead to more fulfilling travel and more ongoing relationships with the cities that you travel to."

It is exciting to see these types of applications being developed for mobile devices. It shows that portable devices have a practical use beyond mere entertainment. It is my hope to become involved in these types of projects, developing interactive applications for people on the go.

P.S. This report from the History Unwired project is mandatory reading.