Sunday, July 14, 2013

Hacks both useful and useless

Not sure what to think about this latest offering from New York City:



While it's certainly geeky - seriously, a hacked GPS helmet? - and I feel like I should think this is cool, all I'm left with is a vague sense of bemusement. How exactly does it direct you? Can it direct you to somewhere else, rather than just the nearest station (it doesn't seem so)? And how distracted are you going to be with lights flashing and glowing just above your eyebrows? I'm distracted enough by the tire lights I bought that glow bright blue when the tires spin: I can't imagine what would happen if I had a bright green light directed straight into my eye from above.

And really, could it do something more useful? Like maybe. . . signal turns? Something like this: now this is a useful hack. (Click the link for the Instructable: I really want to do this.)