 Poster: A snowHead
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My mate has built a free app called Avalanche Clarity that makes official avalanche bulletins much easier to understand - especially if they’re only published in the local language (like French) or written in overly technical terms.
What it does:
• Clear AI translations of official bulletins
• Plain-language explanations of the key risks
• Quick location search + direct links back to the original source
It’s completely free (the app is free, and there’s also a free website widget you can embed on any website). I’m trying to spread the word because I think it's a great app that can genuinely help us all make safer decisions in the mountains.
• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avalancheclarity.avalanche_clarity
• App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/avalancheclarity/id6759971547
• Free widget (for websites): https://avalancheclarity.com/en/widget
If this is useful, we’d love any feedback (and if you run a site, feel free to embed the widget).
Cheers!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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For the geographically illiterate there's one problem; if I select Les Arcs as a location it successfully finds the resort BUT doesn't then tell me which regional area I should subscribe to instead just giving me a list without making it clear which one to select.
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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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Glad I spotted this one as missed the previous thread, looks like a very neat app to keep you informed
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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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| Blackblade wrote: |
| For the geographically illiterate there's one problem; if I select Les Arcs as a location it successfully finds the resort BUT doesn't then tell me which regional area I should subscribe to instead just giving me a list without making it clear which one to select. |
Thanks for the feedback. Can you provide a screenshot of what you're looking at please and we can see if there's a way to improve the experience.
Cheers.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Blackblade, are you referring to it listing all towns with the name you search, along with their province. Don't see how it could be done any differently.
Like this...
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@SandfordDavies, I like it. At a quick glance, it misses a few explanations. "Size1 to 2" for example only gives size1 explanation. It's way better than simply applying Google translate on the original. I've had some very odd/entertaining results from that.
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| adithorp wrote: |
| @Blackblade, are you referring to it listing all towns with the name you search, along with their province. Don't see how it could be done any differently. |
No, I'm not referring to that. Well, not that part of the process anyway. I get that list. I then select the resort from that list. That all works fine.
However, you don't subscribe to reports by actual resort (unless I'm doing it wrong) but by region and the only thing that I get after selecting the resort is another list of regions to subscribe to ... but they aren't in any particular order and seem to take no notice of the resort you've selected. In the end I looked it up and found that it was the Tarantaise ... but that region was about half way down the list of regions so if I'd assumed that the right region had been selected or sorted by my choice of resort then I'd have subscribed to the wrong one.
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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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Strange. I click on Les Arc in that list it and then translation is takes me to the Haute Tarantaise and options for translation or add to watch list. Translation goes to the avy' report and not another list.
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@Blackblade, do you mean that it's not easy to discern which report is for what area if you're subscribed to multiple areas. E.g you might have VT, La Plagne and Les Arcs which appears to cover 3 different reports, so you have three reports but they area sorted by Haute-Tarantaise, Maurienne and Vanoise so without clicking into them it's not immediately clear which is which. Perhaps being able to name the watchlist/favourites would help, especially as in VT the Orelle valley is a different report (albeit from the top of the lower bubble so unlikely to be used)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@SnoodyMcFlude, think you're right. Once you add them to your "watch list" they're only denoted by area. Listing the searched name automatically or letting you edit its name when uou add it would be better
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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'd been working with Simon on integrating the app along with a review into our site, and, both he and my OH nigh on at the same time thought a widget would be a sensible option, you can see how that works below on our Serre Che Weather and webcam page.
The app is great, and I love how at an instant glance I can see both areas local to me, as I'm right on the border of two.
https://stylealtitude.com/serrechevalierweathercam.html
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The translation part of the app is amazing.
I do agree with @Blackblade, that navigating which Massif you need to look at is quite difficult. This is a "how France works" problem rather than anything the app developers have caused. Avy reports are by massif and named after massif, but it is hard to understand which massif relates to which ski resort, particularly since some straddle a border of two or more massifs.
For those who have innate knowledge of which massif they're in the My Massifs page probably works really well. But for those of us who's mental map of the Alps is by ski resort and valley the list of massifs doesn't help much. I don't have that metal map that tells me La Plagne in in the Vanoise but Les Arcs is in Haute Tarentaise for example.
The "find massif" page actually works really well, this is the best navigation I've ever found that allows you to understand which massif a ski resort is actually in. And the map on that page is great. Particularly if you zoom in see the ski lifts marked on the OpenStreetMap tiles. I wonder if that could be built on to help solve the "how france works" issue of knowing which massif you need. E.g. could there be a "my ski resorts" page or maybe even better to have a larger navigation by the map with the massif boundaries showing so I can navigate around and click avy reports at a zoom level that lets me see the resort layout and maps at the same time. Could work outside a resort as well if I have a touring route and want to know which massif that is in.
It is also a shame that the map cannot be the OpenSkiMap tiles rather than the OpenStreetMap - But I understand the licencing/hosting restrictions on that one.
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FAQ
