Google at the Gaspump and Other Forays Into Locative Media

In the ongoing integration of virtual and real worlds, Google announced last week that 3,500 Web-connected gas pumps nationwide will incorporate Google Maps on a touchscreen to give out directions and advertise local businesses.

This is just one of many up and coming experiments to imbed interactive digital data in physical locations and to localize advertising…right down to the street level.

A variety of non commercial locative media projects are also being attempted in this space – typically focusing on enhancing community and neighborhood interactions and causing people to think differently about their physical spaces. You can view a number of those projects here and here.