The Java Baloon Project – the Highest Twitter Client in the Room

A Romanian team just experimented with sending automated tweets using an iPhone and a Helium balloon during the Romanian Webstock conference.

The idea was pretty simple: get a regular balloon Helium filled, attach an iPhone using a custom application and set it free. Well, not really free because it was flying in the conference room only.
The iPhone took a picture at one minute interval and posted it automatically to Twitter. To see all the pics go to the project page.

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They are also offering the source-code of the custom iPhone application (Objective-C), free of charge (MIT license). Just ask them.

This reminded me of these students from MIT who did the same (Project Icarus) but at a higher scale and using a photo camera instead of an iPhone.
They managed to send a simple Helium filled balloon into the stratosphere (18 miles high) equipped with a point and shoot photo camera which got some amazing pictures of the earth’s curvature. All for a mere $150 budget.

See some of the results below…

Story by Mircea Goia

Mircea Goia was born in Romania and emigrated to US in 2005. He lives in Phoenix, AZ and works as web developer. His is involved in several (show all) Mircea Goia was born in Romania and emigrated to US in 2005. He lives in Phoenix, AZ and works as web developer. His is involved in several online projects and one of them is MyTestBox.com. Mircea shows a keen interest in commercial Web development such as social networks, viral marketing, e-commerce, online video (and filmmaking). He can be reached on his personal website (for suggestions, news, tips).