You know those futuristic-type movies where people don headsets and information is delivered directly to them – kind of like Arnie in the Terminator movies or the predators in the Predator movies? Well, the future is here. Canadian-based technology company Recon Instruments Inc. has developed a set of GPS ski goggles that deliver real-time navigation information, such as speed, distance, altitude and, of course, location. Information is viewed on a micro LCD display in a module that can be snapped into goggles and helmets.
According to articles on theglobeandmail.com and theskichannel.com, the GPS module will include:
• Integrated maps and buddy tracking, so you’ll always know where your friends and family are on the slopes.
• Bluetooth smartphone and video integration, so you can access your music, receive calls and text messages and use the goggles as a viewfinder for the camera.
• Capabilities to stream videos among friends and view each other’s perspectives on the mountain.
• The ability to share information such as statistics, maps and trails via Recon’s online social network.
To achieve all this, the goggles, called Transcend, will use Google’s Android OS. Android will also allow developers to create apps for Transcend, which means that skiing could soon be secondary to all the distractions available on the slopes.
GPS systems have also come in handy for families on skiing holidays. Many parents worry about hitting the slopes while leaving their kids to fend for themselves in ski classes. The worry is that once the kids are let loose on the mountain side they could become lost or injure themselves and no one will know where they are.
As a result, ski resorts around the world have bought into flaik (pronounced flake), a GPS tracking system designed specifically for ski instructors and their students. A flaik, which the size of a pack of cards, is strapped to a student’s leg and acts as a beacon, letting the instructor know where the student is at all times. Should students wander out of bounds, the instructor is alerted and students are summoned or brought back.
The systems are programmable so instructors can set predetermined limits based on the competency level of the class. One of the added advantages of flaik is that it records information, so students can log onto the website and see how they did and measure their progress.