In a curious example of digital good samaritanism, an anonymous artist has created a website featuring photographs of his collection of lost luggage. It’s part voyeuristic art project, and part online lost-and-found. The maker of isthisyourluggage.com buys bags deemed “permanently lost” at airport charity auctions and catalogs the outside and content of the luggage. Hopefully this unusual pastime pays off for someone out there.
[via Swiss MIss]

Gawker highlights a New York Times article which talks about the growing numbers of “digital samaritans”, who help return lost items via the web. With the help of our socially networked society, and a bit of detective work, tracking down owners is becoming exceptionally easy.
They explain:

A Scottish hiker found a digital camera, circulated some pictures on Flickr, and figured out where the owner lived. A nearby Flickr user drove around until he found the house in question, and the camera was soon returned to its owner (a clumsy American, naturally).
An engineer found a wallet in a 7-Eleven and, before turning [...]