Smartphones fighting Incest In Iceland – Here is How!

Smartphones-and-Incest
21Apr

Smartphones fighting Incest In Iceland – Here is How!

By Iceland 0 Comments
Iceland is a country with a population of just about 320,000. And there has been little immigration over the years. This means there is not as much genetic diversity as on larger land masses. Go back a few generations and most Icelanders will find they are related to each other – almost everyone is distantly related. This makes the risk of inadvertently kissing cousins a very real risk.To avoid the risk of dating a relative, an app was created by three University of Iceland software engineering students. The Islendiga-App — “App of Icelanders” — is an idea that may only be possible in Iceland, where most of the population shares descent from a group of 9th-century Viking settlers. The idea is quite simple – an online database holds genealogical details of almost the entire population. This is accessed by the app and it allows any two Icelanders to see how closely related they are, simply by touching phones. A small but much talked about feature is the loosely translated ‘Incest Prevention Alarm’ which notifies the user if the person he/she’s bumping with is too closely related.This app also caters to Icelanders love of genealogy.
Read about the other interesting aspects of travel to Iceland here.
Interested in travel to Iceland? Check out some of our Iceland itineraries here.

For ideas on experiential travel to Europe, Asia and Africa, visit Beyonder Travel.

Author

Anand Parameswaran, Founder-CEO, Beyonder Experiences, is a firm believer in "the theater of the mind" being the best fodder for a hyperactive-imagination to revel in. In other words, he is a sucker for stories. He actively seeks them out in unique cultures, history, social mores, legends, myths, and cuisines, through travel in unfamiliar lands... He loves and prefers solo trips through unfamiliar lands!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Northern-light-evening-iceland
19Jun

Iceland – A chill place to be

By



Iceland inspiration for me and Led Zeppelin

My first tryst with Iceland was with the band Led Zeppelin. Their association with the title “Hammer of the Gods” came after their tour of Iceland and performance in Reykjavik. In fact, Iceland was the inspiration for one my... read more

katla-volcano
21Apr

Katla – the Lady and the largest Icelandic Volcano

By

Folklore has it that once in Iceland, there lived a woman named Katla who was known to wear a special trouser and run like the wind! Katla’s skill had helped a lot of people and she was renowned far and wide. However, Katla also had... read more

jardbodin-myvatni-kvold
23Apr

Blue Lagoon & Myvatn Nature Baths

By

Carry a swimsuit when you travel to Iceland… Some may laugh… but, believe me, you will have the last laugh at the Blue Lagoon or Myvatn Nature Baths!

While Iceland has a lot of natural hot water springs, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is a man made one located in a lava... read more

One-Town-One-Pool-in-Iceland
21Apr

One Town One Pool in Iceland. Sundlaug – Its hot!

By

Doesn’t most of the stress of life come from loneliness, low social interaction and lack of a support system? And maybe exercise?The Icelanders have figured a fun way way of handling all of these – “Sundlaugs”“Sundlaugs” are geothermally heated public pools across Iceland. There are... read more

skogafoss-treasure-chest-iceland
28May

Skógafoss Waterfall and Treasure Chest Hunting in Iceland

By

Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a drop of 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. You can walk right up to it, but be prepared to be drenched! It is just overwhelming standing next to it. Steps lead... read more

Beliefs-The-Elves-of-Iceland
22Jan

Beliefs! The Elves of Iceland – the Huldufolk

By

If you want to lay a road, build a house, or construct a dam in Iceland, there’s one influential group you have to clear it with first – Elves, the ‘hidden people’, the Huldufolk. Legend has it that they are similar to humans, and wear 17th... read more

Jolabokaflod-
29Dec

Jolabokaflod – The Christmas Book Flood: A Beloved Icelandic Tradition

By

Christmas Book Flood

If Christmas is around the corner, Icelandic publishing houses will release hundreds of new titles onto the Icelandic book market. This commences a unique tradition known as the jólabókaflóð, or the Christmas Book Flood. During this bustling and much-anticipated yearly event, bookstores across... read more

Godafoss-waterfall
10May

Pagan Gods Fall

By

Have you ever heard the story of the Gods being condemned to a waterfall, well let me tell you the little story of Godafoss or The Waterfall of the Gods!

The waterfall Godafoss (The Waterfall of the Gods) is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland.  It is located right... read more

horse-of the vikings
29Apr

The Horses of the Vikings – What Makes Them Special?

By

The Icelandic horses were brought into the country by the Vikings and over the last 1000 odd years they have been kept as a pure breed. They are a special breed because unlike other horses that have three (or at best four) natural gaits the... read more

oldest parliament iceland thingvelir
22May

Oldest Parliament in the world – Iceland

By

Oldest Parliament in the world?

Its in Iceland. Did you know that? No? Icelanders adopted the parliamentary system of governance in 930 AD! Iceland is the country with the oldest parliament in the world!

The History of the Parliament

Iceland’s Viking settlers decided in 930 AD that Iceland was... read more

X