Skip to main content

Feeling lonely? Make friends by sending a digital paper plane around the world

Do you have a need to know that you’re not alone in the world? A digital paper plane from a stranger might do the trick.

In honor of International Day of Peace, Google and Active Theory have released a Paper Planes app, an Android Experiment that seeks to bring people together. First debuted in May at Google I/O, the app lets you virtually throw a paper airplane to anyone in the world, giving users some sense of connectivity. You can even stamp your airplane so that recipients know where in the world you are (and you can discover new parts of the world, too). And when your plane ultimately comes back home (it’s really like a digital boomerang), you’ll be able to see all the places to which it traveled.

Recommended Videos

The app makes use of a combination of WebSockets, WebGL, and WebWorkers, which helped developers render and “place” the plane in a wireframe world. Firebase Cloud Messaging, background services, and native Nougat inline replies allow for more communication between users, helping them feel a bit more in touch with their 21st century pen (or rather, plane) pals.

Even though you’ll never hold the physical paper plane in your hands, the app does everything it can to make the process feel somewhat tangible. You have to “fold” the paper, flick your phone to send it off, and shake your phone to catch a new plane — and if you visit paperplanes.world in your web browser, you can watch your plane take flight.

It’s a simple concept, but one that certainly pays homage to an oft-neglected aspect of the human psyche — loneliness. So whether you’re just interested in flying a virtual paper plane or looking to establish a fleeting yet recognizable connection with another human somewhere across the country — or world — you can check out Paper Planes on the Google Play Store.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Honor Magic V5 is a seriously impressive foldable phone, so it’s gutting it’s not available in the US
We've been hands-on with the world's thinnest foldable phone
The internal screen of the Magic V5, standing on the edge of a foosball table

The Honor Magic V5 is the world’s thinnest foldable phone, and while the thickness of your phone may not be a driving force behind your purchasing decision my brief time so far with this handset has shown there’s more going on here than a simple spec benchmark.

If I were Samsung, I’d be looking a little nervously over my shoulder as I prepare for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 launch on July 9.

Read more
The world’s thinnest foldable phone is actually thicker than its predecessor
The Honor Magic V5 is super slim, but it also bulks out in one key area
The Magic V5 and Magic V3 foldable phones being held in one hand

I’ve been hands-on with the Honor Magic V5, officially the world’s thinnest foldable phone - a title the Chinese manufacturer expects the phone to retain throughout 2025.

But while it is the thinnest foldable around, it’s also oddly thicker in one key way than its predecessor the Magic V3 (a former world’s thinnest foldable itself) and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold I had in my pocket.

Read more
Apple Watch Series 11: everything you need to know
The Apple Watch Series 10, with a leather band, on someone's wrist.

Apple’s next smartwatch is merely a few months away, and ahead of its expected Fall debut, we have come across rather interesting bits of information. For starters, it may not serve any design surprises. On the other hand, some next-gen health innovations could be on the horizon. 

Let’s start with the name. Well, don’t expect any fireworks here. The upcoming smartwatch will most likely hit the shelves carrying the Apple Watch Series 11 label. How much will it cost? Barring any major hardware-level changes or Apple seriously feeling the pinch of tariffs, we are looking at a familiar starting price of $399 per timepiece. 

Read more