'Hello, Lamp Post!' The city is about to talk back

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Things From the Future | See all 32 items
The jeans innovation you didn't ask for
By Karyn Lu, Special to HLN
updated 2:23 PM EST, Tue January 29, 2013

•This week's 5 most fantastic innovations and ideas!
•Jeans with built-in moisturizer claim to reduce cellulite
•City's mailboxes, lamp posts, potholes will begin to 'talk'
 
Editor's Note: Karyn Lu is Turner Broadcasting's manager of New Media Insights & Inspiration. Each week, she scouts out amazing innovations, cutting-edge technology and, well, just really awesome stuff and shares them right here. Before it goes mainstream, it's going to be one of her favorite 5 Things From the Future!

1. An app that 'translates' news for children

2. 'Hello, Lamp Post!' The city is about to talk back

If you could have a conversation with your corner mailbox, what might that sound like? Perhaps the box might ask you what it looks like, or where your letter is going. And what stories would it have to tell you from its vantage point on the corner? Sound like something out of Harry Potter? Well, this summer in the British city of Bristol, everything from postboxes and lampposts to storm drains and manhole covers will gain the power of speech.

As part of a quirky project called “Hello, Lamp Post!,” you'll be able to converse with these everyday city objects via text message. The winner of Bristol’s first-ever Playable City Award, the goal of this project is “about people sharing ideas and playing together.” As a huge fan of the play trend that is traversing the globe right now, I can't tell you how much I love this project.

3. The jeans innovation you didn't ask for

4. Soda from your smartphone

5. A drive-thru elevator for drinks

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/01/29/5-things-future-japan-newspaper-app-moisturizing-jeans