Social sensors

From measuring your vital signs to locating empty parking spots, sensors are sneaking into our lives. And as befits any self-respecting modern technology, sensors are tweeting. Here are a few that caught our attention:

PANAMANIAN POTHOLES

Sick of pothole-ridden streets, a Panamanian news station linked up with an ad agency to put sensors inside a number of particularly hazardous holes. When a vehicle runs over one, the device automatically sends a snarky message to the Department of Public Works’ Twitter account. Apparently it works – the potholes miraculously get repaired.

SOCIAL SHARKS

In Western Australia, several hundred great white and other dangerous sharks have been tagged with sensors. When a shark gets to within a kilometre of a local beach, its sensors send out a tweet through the local surf life saving group’s Twitter account.

HONEY BADGER

Looking for an inventive social media strategy, Johannesburg Zoo turned its honey badger into its Twitter expert. BG's cage was fitted out with motion-sensors linked to his Twitter account, @ ZooTweetsLive. He tweets selfies, pics of his meals, and snide comments about other animals.

DANNY BUOY

Sensors on a buoy in Ireland’s Galway Bay collect information about weather and water conditions, and tweet them out – along with updates on the 39,000mile Volvo Ocean Race, which finishes there.