 Poster: A snowHead
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An appeal to the collective snowHead brain. All suggestions gratefully received.
For a design project, the lad has to come up with the plans for a device of some sort; it's a gap in the market type goal. He's 17 and right into skiing so it makes sense that he looks for something to do with sliding down hills.
Any thoughts?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There is always 'build-a-better-ski-lock'. Not very imaginative, but there are plenty in the market with obvious flaws you can highlight and try to design out. Functional requirements are straight forward.
Or what about a design for a portable up-hill tow system which can be set-up on any snowy hill for a day. He can look at current tow/drag systems, work out price points, portability, powering and gearing, etc.
I did have an idea about improving avalanche detector technology but it's not really a design project per se, more electrical/software engineering.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Biggest gap in the market for skiers is superstrength/capacity toenail clippers to keep the hideous toenail double thickness growth, that you get after too much boot bang, under control.
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Big Paua, propulsion for snowboarders to stop them whining on long flat runouts?
Couard effect fan? Small turbojet?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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A slope gradient meter.
Simple objective, few existing products.
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there must be an app for that? 
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under a new name, speaking for 'My People', we'd prefer the simplicity of pulse-jet technology....
We leave 'Needlessly complex' for skiers 
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I think there's scope for a product crossing the technology of Ski Boots with that of Light Sabres to produce integral 'Light Skis'. And just to make it fashionable with da kidz, a phone app to adjust the 'ski' width/length - tadah!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Something that bugs me is the difficulties of using a mobile phone when skiing.
- When stuffed away in a pocket I can never hear it ringing,
- and even if I do by the time I stop, take of my gloves and unzip the pocket i've always missed the call,
- and I can never see who's called on the screen because there's too much light about.
Maybe the answer is a bluetooth headset built into a helmet, maybe it's a google glass type insert in ski googles, maybe it's something else. I do know that the rush towards smartwatches isn't the answer as they're harder to get at than a mobile phone is.
It certainly seems to be the kind of thing where there's scope to identify the challenges, come up with a few design ideas and maybe prototype the best one.
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Richard_Sideways, but noisy. The French would ban them. You'd probably have to wear speedos as well.
olderscot, "bluetooth headset built into a helmet" exists I believe. Personally, I just let the phone ring and return the call if I feel like it at my convenience.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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under a new name, noisy, simple and hated by the French; snowboarding and pulse jets - a match made in heaven
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Some off the top of my head, some may have been tried.
Boot carriers
Ski carriers
Dremal ski edge sharpener
Boot drier maybe chemical based
Adjustable ski pole basket from ice to powder
Adjustable ski pole, may be curved at the top with a long long grip and a floating strap
Hydrator that won't freeze maybe with a heater, solar powered?
Something other than glasses to help the shortsighted read piste maps
Something to stop ski boots leaking
Inflatable socks
Knee warmers
Something to stop A framing
Pressure gauge that goes in the boot to determine where a persons centre of mass is.
A balaclava that's thick on the head and thin over the face
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olderscot, i met a guy in Italy this spring that had a very fancy helmet. It had a visor that doubled up as a screen. He said he felt like The Terminator whenit was working. It had GPS and you could download piste maps onto it. It could show where you were on the hill, and if you had buddies with GPS phones, it would show their location too. It showed any emails or text messages you received on the screen too, weather warnings etc. All very James Bond.
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You know it makes sense.
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dode, sounds like military technology.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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jbob, if its the Italian military, it'll prioritise the nearest escape routes. *BADUM TSH!*
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bartezki, Smith optics do some with a little fan built in 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Richard_Sideways, I have an unconventional view on the Italian military. In the Great War they were regarded as brave to the point of foolhardiness. In WW2 they had the good sense to realise the game was up, much better than get your country completely destroyed. I admit they didn't cover themselves in glory in Africa. When the war is lost, the sooner you sue for peace the better.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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dode, probably a version of this. http://uk.oakley.com/products/7283/28220
jbob,
Boot carriers - I find wearing them is the best option
Ski carriers - I find skiing on them is the best option
Dremal ski edge sharpener - Could be a good idea
Boot drier maybe chemical based - I find a heated boot bag is the best option
Adjustable ski pole basket from ice to powder - Maybe
Adjustable ski pole, may be curved at the top with a long long grip and a floating strap - You can get adjustable ski poles already
Hydrator that won't freeze maybe with a heater, solar powered? - Just fill it with Vodka, has to be pretty cold to freeze that
Something other than glasses to help the shortsighted read piste maps - Who needs a pist map, lift up, ski down
Something to stop ski boots leaking - Good ski boots
Inflatable socks - Errrrr why?
Knee warmers - Better trousers, pants, thermal layer
Something to stop A framing - Lessons
Pressure gauge that goes in the boot to determine where a persons centre of mass is. - My feet do that job for me
A balaclava that's thick on the head and thin over the face - planning on robbing a bank?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Who needs a pist map, lift up, ski down
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I know a fair few people who have had very expensive taxi rides by using that principle - knowing how to get back to your resort at end of day is sometimes needed
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Inflatable socks - Errrrr why
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yes I'm intrigued by that one!!!
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ansta1, yup, same idea
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Boris, i can't think of a single area complicated enough that either I've never got lost or more importantly, checked and carried at least the critical part of the map with me.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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ansta1, thanks, when I'm in creative mode I never second guess.
I did once see a dremal chainsaw sharpener, the key would be control and maintaining an accurate angle.
I don't like telescopic poles, they have let me down, literally, in some difficult places, I was thinking more a solid pole that was useable at varying lengths but still having a wrist strap, personally I have stopped using wrist straps altogether.
With the hydrator, the issue is with the tube not the bag, freezing is a significant problem for tourers, I fill mine with hot lemon in the hut and have a warm back in the cold dark hours of early morning. Many guides frown on hydrators for this reason, but their use is helpful on preventing dehydration, when it's a faff to get a water bottle out of your sac.
Inflatable socks could solve one of the most talked about issues on snowheads, boot fit.
A framing is as common as being in the back seat, a gadget might help fix it, I would see it as a teaching aid, not for full time use. They are probably the biggest challenges in improving ski technique, many instructors struggle to correct A framing and perfect weight distribution.
It's where the money is.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| olderscot wrote: |
Something that bugs me is the difficulties of using a mobile phone when skiing.
- When stuffed away in a pocket I can never hear it ringing,
- and even if I do by the time I stop, take of my gloves and unzip the pocket i've always missed the call,
- and I can never see who's called on the screen because there's too much light about.
Maybe the answer is a bluetooth headset built into a helmet, maybe it's a google glass type insert in ski googles, maybe it's something else. I do know that the rush towards smartwatches isn't the answer as they're harder to get at than a mobile phone is.
It certainly seems to be the kind of thing where there's scope to identify the challenges, come up with a few design ideas and maybe prototype the best one. |
Oakley have beaten you to that, £499 if i remember correctly. iPhone integration
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've often wondered about folding skis. A section either side of the binding that slides out and folds under the base (a bit like the tent pole arrangement). Make it easier to transport skis in standard hold luggage.
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Levi215, not just Oakley, the company is called Recon Instruments and works in partnership with other brands too, there's a thread on here where one of their staff participates.
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You know it makes sense.
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albinomountainbadger, Ah cool, i've only seen them on the apple homepage so limited knowledge, good to know though looks like cool stuff but £500 can buy some other stuff which is potentially better, like a cheap week away
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thing for finding your ski when it comes off in powder...
~snigger~
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Levi215 wrote: |
| albinomountainbadger, Ah cool, i've only seen them on the apple homepage so limited knowledge, good to know though looks like cool stuff but £500 can buy some other stuff which is potentially better, like a cheap week away |
Noooooooo, it's so much more important to spend money on kit, gear, gadgets and stuff. How on earth can you look like a god when you are snow ploughing down the hill if you haven't got 1k plus of clothes, 2k of equipment, 2k of add on gadgets and I haven't even started on the lunch/apres conversations and envy you will get of you are "kitted to hilt"
Who actually needs to ski or board to look like a ski or boarding god after all....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How about a better buckle for clipping your helmet under your chin? How many times do we all struggle to click it in with gloves on, or adjust the length of the strap so that it won't come off but isn't too tight/loose. At the moment it's a right old fiddle.
I know it's not the most exciting thing suggested, but I find any "gadgets" which are merely something more to carry then get out and strap to skis etc. don't "solve" a problem, they just create more!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| altis wrote: |
| Thing for finding your ski when it comes off in powder... |
How about this, not seen any for a long time and I think they worked on a different frequency to the standard transmit setting of the Ortovox transciever.
Maybe an updated one that worked with digital transcievers, if you can send pulse information then it should be easy enough to send some other identification too.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm not exactly sure how it would work, but what about some way of transferring heat from your core to extremities?
Sometimes my feet and/or hands have been freezing (a problem that women are more susceptible to according to QI!). I think you can get heated gloves and boots (or I dreamed about it!), but something that didn't take power? Maybe some sort of insulating underlayer that could transfer heat from the core down the arms to the hands.
I might be in dreamland here... ignore me!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ansta1, hehehe, that reminds me of an old guy up Cairngorm saying to a youngster with all the bling... "You just need to ski good to look good son, ski good to look good" 
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| altis wrote: |
Thing for finding your ski when it comes off in powder...
~snigger~ |
Already exists: it's called a guide.
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| altis wrote: |
Thing for finding your ski when it comes off in powder...
~snigger~ |
Resqski
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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jbob, Haha  Good point!
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FAQ
