The founder of Blu Cigs is inventing a type of Blu Cig that will alert you when another smoker’s nearby, and will also hook up with social networks. From <em>Fast Company</em>:

Jason Healy, president of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company, and his team have spent about a year developing the “Smart Pack,” a first-of-its-kind e-cig pack which features unique ID technology that detects nearby e-smokers. Before, e-cig packs were meant simply as a portable charging device for the glowing blue-tip devices. Now, when a fellow user is “vaping” (not smoking) within a 50-foot range, the Smart Pack will notify both parties, potentially prompting a social interaction. What’s more, the company has designed the products for seamless integration with social networks like Facebook and Twitter, essentially making the Smart Pack the Foursquare check-in for the nicotine-addicted consumer.

Neat idea. Smokers and vapers are being ostracized everywhere. This will not only help them find like-minded friends, but it could help organize locals into groups that can protest local laws

At Aurelio’s Pizza in Mokena, New Lenox and Frankfort, owner Joe Pascale allows customers to light up and puff away – provided they’re using electronic cigarettes. For a time, Pascale was selling the devices, which contain nicotine and resemble a real cigarette but expel only water vapor.

Although those patrons are few, he says, it’s an alternative to please smokers, including those on his busy staff as well as non-smokers.

“We’ve had people get (mad), and we say, ‘That’s an electronic cigarette,’ and they say, ‘OK,’” Pascale said.

via Fewer huff & puff over state smoke ban :: The Courier News :: Business.