Did your running buddy (aka your best friend in the whole wide world) recently relocate far, far away from you? Can't bear running alongside someone else? New technology from the University of Melbourne in Australia is working on making it so you and your best friend can still be running partners, even if you're miles and miles apart.

The Jogging Over a Distance system uses mobile phone and GPS technology as well as a custom computer program to transform a phone conversation into a three-dimensional audio experience. While you run, you can hear your partner's voice coming from the front (if they are running faster), to the side (if they are running at the same pace), or behind (if they are running slower), depending on how fast or slow he's traveling. The system consists of two identical sets of equipment that each contain a Bluetooth GPS receiver, a 3G mobile phone connection, a miniature computer worn in a backpack, a wireless modem and a headset.

The whole purpose of the system will be a way for joggers to socialize with other joggers that may be in different cities, or even different countries. While I think the idea is great, I am not wild about all the crap you have to have on you while jogging (headset and backpack screams awkward). Look for it in the future.