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The World's First Webmail Service Using Live Snails
Posted by Sean Fallon at 10:40 AM on August 12, 2008
If you thought the post office was slow, get a load of this Real Snail Mail project. Created by the aptly titled Boredom Research team for the SIGGRAPH 2008 Slow Art Exhibition, this snail mail service uses live snails to deliver your email messages via RFID chips planted on the shell. When you compose an email via their website, it will be delivered to one of three "snail agents" who wander aimlessly around a tank. If it should slither within range of a drop off point, the data will be collected wirelessly from the snail and delivered to the recipient.
At the time this article was written, agent 007 has the time to beat with an average transfer time of 1.88 days—but many others have yet to get on the board. I should also point out that the James Bond of snail messengers is named Sean--which fills me with a bizarre sort of pride. Hit the link if you would like to take your chances on one of these slimy snail messengers. [Real Snail Mail via Core77]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ReynaldoRiv
Posted 11:03 AM 12/8/08
Is it just me, or are many of the images on Giz not loading? It seems like a server is down since I get some, but not all images.
ReynaldoRiv
vasha
Posted 10:57 AM 12/8/08
Epic way of using snails.
vasha
frigg
Posted 11:30 AM 12/8/08
Is that why the latest post on the MobileMe Status page references the challenge for any new service to raise and train large populations of snails?
frigg
gonzam
Posted 11:56 AM 12/8/08
I heard comcast is considering this service to speed things up
gonzam
UniComp
Posted 11:49 AM 12/8/08
It's about time we use a renewable source of energy to send our e-mails.
UniComp
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 11:49 AM 12/8/08
@ReynaldoRiv: your browser must also be using snails. Mine are fine.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
enchantedgoose
Posted 12:19 PM 12/8/08
just sent a email using it
enchantedgoose
jblaismacfan
Posted 12:40 PM 12/8/08
***BREAKING NEWS***
Microsoft adapts snail technology into upcoming Exchange server.
jblaismacfan
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:27 PM 12/8/08
Just as long as it isn't Microsoft Snail Agent.
"It appears you want to slowly ooze along the glass. Do you want to leave a mucus trail?"
I mean, DUH!
strider_mt2k
Xenobiologista
Posted 1:20 PM 12/8/08
oops sorry should have read "..things like this BUT has no..."
Xenobiologista
Xenobiologista
Posted 1:19 PM 12/8/08
I like this sort of off-the-wall stuff - ironic but not cynical. The problem with a lot of modern art is that it tries to make useless things like this has no sense of humour; it's the geeks who are now producing the real art.
Xenobiologista
The Magnificen7
Posted 12:57 PM 12/8/08
@jblaismacfan: Finally, a speed increase. Big one too!
The Magnificen7
Rob C
Posted 1:51 PM 12/8/08
does it bug anyone else when people refer to traditional letter mail as "snail-mail"?
[rant]
It's always been "mail" and it will always be "mail".
Please. Electronic-mail is e-mail, regular old letter mail is still just mail. Don't call it snail mail just because the "new" thing is faster. Regular mail is no slower, if anything it's faster.
[/rant]
Rob C
The Magnificen7
Posted 2:18 PM 12/8/08
@Rob C: Ah, I see. And agreed. But I find that when I say I'll 'mail' something, I always get the obligatory 'email or snail mail' question anyway. So I've stopped verbally conversing with the human race. Then I weep in the corner, and promise never to bring a child into this world so that he/she will never have to witness what I have seen, which cannot be unseen. But that's just me.
The Magnificen7
collider
Posted 2:16 PM 12/8/08
@Rob C: Bugs! Snails! OKAY!! Okay.. We get it..
collider
Rob C
Posted 2:14 PM 12/8/08
@The Magnificen7:
I meant regular mail hasn't gotten any slower lately.
And it just bugs me when people use "snail mail"
Rob C
The Magnificen7
Posted 2:11 PM 12/8/08
@Rob C: What country do you live in? Vatican City? Then you may be correct.
The Magnificen7
Gann
Posted 2:07 PM 12/8/08
@Xenobiologista: Name one non-geek that has produced real art as you call it.
Gann
Con Seannery
Posted 3:36 PM 12/8/08
Saying "Snail Mail": The best way to show people you are computer illiterate.
The terms that must die:
Snail Mail
Information Superhighway (well on its way to death)
blogosphere
bandwidth (when used in general, non-computer related discussion)
iPod when used separately from MP3 player (such as iPods and MP3 players)
all 13375933k
governator
Feel free to add your own!
Con Seannery
michaelleung
Posted 4:27 PM 12/8/08
That's not the right link...
michaelleung
rfayed
Posted 4:49 PM 12/8/08
score.
rfayed
001
Posted 5:03 PM 12/8/08
@The Magnificen7:
off topic, but yeah, the fact that everyone (well u and me at least) have this momentary angst for our children is really trippy. like some kind of a signal implanted in us is triggered off by certain experiences (mindless masses for one, prospect of china being the greatest nation, etc), so as to trim the human population.
oh yeah i dont mean the part about china, was just being suicidal.
001
Evangelion
Posted 5:52 PM 12/8/08
Snails huh? If you want to send slow email you can just use EDGE on your iPhone.
Just saying.
Evangelion
Evangelion
Posted 6:09 PM 12/8/08
But I got to admit. This is pretty awesome. =]
Evangelion
Purple Dave
Posted 6:06 PM 12/8/08
Just sent a couple messages, and I have to say that one of the coolest things is the little note in the header bar when you're typing up your note, informing you that priority is "set to low".
Purple Dave
Purple Dave
Posted 5:55 PM 12/8/08
Epic...
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Win.
Purple Dave
urbanturban666
Posted 6:34 PM 12/8/08
could be worse... they could use snails to deliver actual snail mail...
urbanturban666
Rexter
Posted 7:33 PM 12/8/08
HAhahaahha oh wow, best invention ever!
Rexter
kwicherbichin
Posted 9:19 PM 12/8/08
@Con Seannery: How about "Epic Win".
kwicherbichin
chizelord
Posted 9:41 PM 12/8/08
@Con Seannery: deserv
chizelord
ReynaldoRiv
Posted 11:29 PM 12/8/08
@P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft: Haha, well put. Well it seems to be fine now... but last night Gizmodo was buggy (for me). Every other page (oft visited or otherwise) loaded images just fine.
Oh well, as for being on topic: This beats the hell out of all the shitty "art" at the university that most art majors pull out of their asses.
ReynaldoRiv
VideoVampire
Posted 11:29 PM 12/8/08
I once saw a set of calculations based on a sent and recieved letter and the actual speed of a snail, the result was that Uncle Sam was even slower than the snail.
VideoVampire
vee-media
Posted 5:15 AM 13/8/08
The link to the original site just links back to this page Giz?
vee-media
TokyoDevil
Posted 6:42 PM 14/8/08
No "message recall" function, obviously. Then again, you could always hop a plane with a salt shaker ...
Taking up the 007 reference, this concept could be applied to bombs as well, replacing the old lit cigarette time delay. Just plant it, arm it and start working on your alibi.
TokyoDevil