 Poster: A snowHead
|
I had what I thought was an original idea this week; a Sat Nav for skiers.
It came about because, whilst I tend to ski resorts that I know very well indeed and therefore have no need of a piste map, I've organised family and friends trips and found it almost impossible to keep everyone together. Then, when someone loses the group, since they were just following along they end up totally lost. We've had hours of fun trying to locate people, for example, in Cervinia when they have to get back to Zermatt or they get stuck ... so no option to just say 'See you back in the resort'. There is also the fact that my partner and one of my children have the directional sense of an amoeba and could get lost just going down the street.
So ...
My idea was a simple device which you could wear on your wrist which would have a similar interface to the Beeline motorcycle navigator ( Beeline ) but which would, rather than roads, tell you which lift or piste to take and have an arrow indicating its' direction.
However, it appears that this is not an original idea and, whilst there is no device for it, there is an app called Snonav ( Snonav ). I just wondered if anyone knew about it, had tried it or had any thoughts about it ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
There’s another one called Skiif. Some of Our group tried it last week in Paradiski. I must be honest I didn’t think it was all that good so deleted it after half a day but tbh I didn’t really need it anyway but some of the others wanted to give it a go as we are all different levels and were spread all across the resort in smaller groups so it may have been useful to some
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Blackblade, don't all the main resorts already have that..or do you mean speaking to you as you ski?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Mmmmm, seems a bit niche or one for the ski nerds.
For most people, most of the time it's not about getting from a to b - like a satnav helps you with.
Also, these family and friend people would tend to be people that wouldn't have the app or know how to use it.
Do these apps know about piste/lift closures in real time and lift closing times. Also there is the standard of the skier to take into account - you don't want the nav sending a beginner down a difficult slope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Blackblade, don't all the main resorts already have that..or do you mean speaking to you as you ski? |
At the next group of snowboarders, turn right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
[quote] At the next group of snowboarders, Doff your helmet/quote]
FIFY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i was going to start a thread asking if such a thing existed, then saw it does via the app store, but haven't downloaded anything yet.
i just want a google map overlay showing the runs and lifts in a resort, and then obviously my gps location. i can then work out where i want to go myself. i got thrown in drei zinnen during a whiteout and ended up on a proper mission to get back to somewhere i recognised.
does this exist?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Layne wrote: |
| Mmmmm, seems a bit niche or one for the ski nerds. |
Well, yes, but as I AM most definitely a nerd I quite like the idea 
| Layne wrote: |
| For most people, most of the time it's not about getting from a to b - like a satnav helps you with. |
True ... but sometimes it is. And, when you don't know where you are and you don't know the names of the stations/lifts/pistes it's definitely an issue. Or am I the only one with family members and friends who are wholly incapable of reading maps and navigating ?
| Layne wrote: |
| Do these apps know about piste/lift closures in real time and lift closing times. Also there is the standard of the skier to take into account - you don't want the nav sending a beginner down a difficult slope. |
Snonav claims that they do ... they supposedly scrape the live feeds provided by the resorts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Blackblade, don't all the main resorts already have that..or do you mean speaking to you as you ski? |
Well, I think Snonav does speak to you as you ski ... so you need headphones really. As I said, I was originally thinking more of a simple device that you could wear on your wrist.
I use the resort apps personally ... but only to know which ones are open and which closed. If you can't read a map then you are probably going to struggle with those for navigation purposes.
I can also see that it would be useful if you wanted to do, for example, the Three Valleys Escapade. I was planning to do this with my daughter so I mapped out the route, converted it to a gpx file and then loaded it onto my watch. I also had it on a laminated sheet. Issue was simply that it was too long to remember the whole thing. In the end we didn't do it as it was late in the season and many of the lower pistes were closed. However, for that, I can see that a device would be very helpful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I agree with its not the sort of thing I would use all the time but sometimes it is just a case of "What's the quickest way to get to XXX" and then also adding the "avoiding flat sections" 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Layne wrote: |
| Also there is the standard of the skier to take into account - you don't want the nav sending a beginner down a difficult slope. |
According to Snonav that is in the settings; you can tell it not to take certain colour pistes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Not sure that wearing something on your wrist is particularly helpful for navigation when skiing, unless it speaks to you. Generally wrists are covered by ski kacket cuffs and gloves....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| JDL65 wrote: |
| Not sure that wearing something on your wrist is particularly helpful for navigation when skiing, unless it speaks to you. Generally wrists are covered by ski kacket cuffs and gloves.... |
I was thinking a velcro cuff that would go OVER clothing ... similar to a dive watch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
we just use walkie talkies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Bob wrote: |
| we just use walkie talkies. |
Walkie talkie or phone ... neither help if the answer to 'Where are you ?' is 'I have no idea'. Some people are really navigationally clueless and it's almost impossible to give them directions.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Fri 31-01-25 14:27; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Blackblade wrote: |
| Bob wrote: |
| we just use walkie talkies. |
... but neither help if the answer to 'Where are you ?' is 'I have no idea'. Some people are really navigationally clueless and it's almost impossible to give them directions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Blackblade wrote: |
| Bob wrote: |
| we just use walkie talkies. |
Walkie talkie or phone ... neither help if the answer to 'Where are you ?' is 'I have no idea'. Some people are really navigationally clueless and it's almost impossible to give them directions. |
Open Googlemaps and drop a pin, and share through whatsapp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Blackblade wrote: |
| Or am I the only one with family members and friends who are wholly incapable of reading maps and navigating ? |
If this is the problem I am not sure the app will help them.
Before mobile phones there was nothing you could do if someone got separated/lost. They either made it back home at the end of the day - or didn't. I've never known anyone who didn't lol.
With mobile phones you can just ring up and make arrangements to meet again. Piste markers have the name of the run and lifts have their names at the bottom so you can always figure out where they are.
Anyhow, I've nothing against someone developing the app or someone using it. I just struggle with the use case for myself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| shirt wrote: |
i just want a google map overlay showing the runs and lifts in a resort, and then obviously my gps location. i can then work out where i want to go myself. [...]
does this exist? |
Yes - try Open Ski Map. https://openskimap.org/#12.37/46.69699/12.36073
It's a webpage rather than an app but it works on mobile and if you let it use your location then it will display where you are as dot. Using OpenStreetMap as the base maps rather than google maps, but this probably makes it better for the purpose it being used, not worse. Shows a proper topographical map with all pistes and lifts showing. It's even in 3D if that is useful to you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| bouquetin wrote: |
| ... It's a webpage rather than an app but it works on mobile and if you let it use your location then it will display where you are as dot. Using OpenStreetMap as the base maps rather than google maps, but this probably makes it better for the purpose it being used, not worse. Shows a proper topographical map with all pistes and lifts showing. It's even in 3D if that is useful to you. |
I use OsmAnd, which is probably the same base maps, all open source [free] and it's an app, although also based on OpenStreetMap. Which is rather better than most alternatives in the places I go.
With the contour maps plugin too [small charge], you get full map-quality piste layout, real time location, on and offline maps, plus what appears to be the same data you get in Open Ski Map (well it's all "open"...).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lots of apps like that out already
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| bouquetin wrote: |
| shirt wrote: |
i just want a google map overlay showing the runs and lifts in a resort, and then obviously my gps location. i can then work out where i want to go myself. [...]
does this exist? |
Yes - try Open Ski Map. https://openskimap.org/#12.37/46.69699/12.36073
It's a webpage rather than an app but it works on mobile and if you let it use your location then it will display where you are as dot. Using OpenStreetMap as the base maps rather than google maps, but this probably makes it better for the purpose it being used, not worse. Shows a proper topographical map with all pistes and lifts showing. It's even in 3D if that is useful to you. |
that looks perfect thankyou.
but really, i would have thought this would exist as an overlay for google maps. set up a route on your phone and then just check progress with a smart watch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Blackblade wrote: |
| Some people are really navigationally clueless and it's almost impossible to give them directions. |
Or let them starve and then they'll learn that reading a map really isn't tricky 
As above, there are already a number of options that touch on this idea, including the apps for most larger resorts (which is realistically where the issues arise). I don't know much about linking tech to a watch, but even that isn't ideal and I suspect relatively little demand. In the situations where I end up having to meet up with someone, the best landmarks are usually "I'm at the top/bottom of x lift" or "I'm by y bar/restaurant". In France it can be even easier as many resorts have piste markers with names and distance numbers on them. For meeting up on the move then sharing a Whatsapp/FB Messenger live location does the trick.
That said, I'm generally comfortable with navigating my way around using a map, so I wouldn't be the target market for this type of dealy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| shirt wrote: |
| but really, i would have thought this would exist as an overlay for google maps. set up a route on your phone and then just check progress with a smart watch. |
Google had added pistes and lifts for some resorts but removed them all a little while back, it was obvious they weren't maintaining the objects as lots of old lifts were there, new lifts missing etc. Their public reason for removing the information was that people didn't use it, preferring the resort maps instead. I guess the truth was the effort of maintaining didn't result in enough ad revenue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
The app we used a few years ago was pretty basic (I don't remember if it was only for 3V, or Paradiski or what was then Espace Killy)
You were pointing at a spot (or someone else registered) on the map and it was telling you how to get there, but not with audio. I guess if you had audio and augmented reality for the goggles... then I'd come back to it
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
While I’m not the target user, I think there’re enough demand for it.
It would be a matter of working out a good user interface, plus good marketing to get it into the hands (phone) of people who would benefit from it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If it isn’t a total whiteout, how do you lose a ski buddy?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| dode wrote: |
| If it isn’t a total whiteout, how do you lose a ski buddy? |
Very easily !
I mean, I started the thread thinking of the groups of 6-10 that I’ve organised where, to be honest, we’ve managed to lose at least one within about 200 metres of getting off the first lift !
One of our group decided to put a tracker on her other half since he got lost so often !
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Blackblade, groups of 10? Do you get any skiing done or is most of the day stood at the bottom of a lift waiting or the top of a lift trying to let everyone know where you're headed? I can see why you'd need this type o thing now, I try not to have much more than 4 in a group because it gets trickier corraling everyone
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
