Description
In 2015 every Avalanche transceiver will have an integrated GPS module. 1.) It can record your speed, skiing path, altitude etc. 2.) It will be much easier to locate the burried skier and there is no distance limit anymore. You could also integrate a "Panic Button" which sends the exact coordinates to the rescue team if one of your friends is burried. Todays cheap GPS which you can find in almost every modern cell phone are exact for about +/- 5-10 meters, so it doesn´t replace the "Feinortung"(in english???). You can also integrate a high quality GPS for exact location so you only need to probe for the burried skier, but this would be much more expensive.
Very good idea. i think manufacturers are already researching on beacon which have the gps function, also the panic button is a great idea, i am sure we will see such products coming up in five years or even sooner.
fgj
Nice Idea, but keep it as simple as possible! This is an emergency tool for stressy situations. The more gadgets and functions you put it the less easy it's gonna be used. I'd like the idea of having GPS data recorded, but only to be received at home on a screen. Leave the beacon simple! The less the better
skistudent(ADMIN)
it is important that research on technologies and systems which protect people is done, just look at the car industry, we can see that many things are going the wrong way, but others are big improvements of safety. for example the abs system or the airbag, these two systems definitly went right. compared to the first models you cant call, for exsamle the ortovox s1, a simple system. as long as the handling becomes more simple and the electric sytem operates bullet proof, it should not be a problem to invent new features. anyway, the gps signal is not able to be recieved or sent throug a huge amount of hard snow, so the searching procedure will stick to the mw signal. pieps is coming up with the gps beacon for summer outdoor sports and i think also with a "winter beacon" that uses gps data transmission to guid rescue teams.
lokk at these webpages :
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/steiermark/leibnitz/lebring_sankt_margarethen/2295856/lawinen-pieps-made-styria-gps-aufgeruestet.story and
http://www.pieps.com/de/news-mainmenu-60/119
fgj
Cool thing, but I agree with skistudent, skier don't need so much info. It have to be simpler so more people could use it.
Capo
this would be a good idea i think. emphasizing on safety and chances to explore w/o worrying about getting lost. Make it simple and convenient so that when people ski they dont worry about losing their GPS. I just think if we can make a coat with GPS or make it stick to the coat. It maybe better. Anyway, everyone will look forward to this GPS.
Tbui
