Would anyone be interested in an app that tracks skydivers and monitors off-dropzone landings?

[chuckakers 370]

megamalfunction

....and Chuckakers, you didn't need criticize my "canopy piloting skills."

I didn't criticize your canopy piloting skills. You did when you said "I myself am a horrible canopy pilot, and land off all the time...". I simply agreed and offered some sage advice that you obviously didn't accept.

Megamalfunction, do yourself a favor. Change your attitude before you get hurt, or worse yet before you hurt someone else. Skydiving is not the place for snowflakes.

Chuck Akers
D-10855
Houston, TX

[DBCOOPER 1]

megamalfunction

I'm working on building an app to track skydivers and monitor off-dropzone landings and would like to know if this is something people would be interested in? I myself am a horrible canopy pilot, and land off all the time, so I thought this might be something people would be interested in. Users would either have to use their own phone, or a phone provided by the DZ, and attach it to their arms with a Velcro arm band. Anyway, if there's any interest in something like this, please let me know!

My contact info:

Christopher Pedersen
(469) 261-0727
[email protected]

this would probably only work for the CReW guys....
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/553790

Replying to: Re: Stall On Jump Run Emergency Procedure? by billvon

If the plane is unrecoverable then exiting is a very very good idea.

[dthames 0]

megamalfunction

My idea was actually to supply the dropzones with phones where the app runs all the time, and jumpers wouldn't have to use the app at all. The jumpers would just wear the phone in an armband and the DZ would be able to monitor where everyone is at all times. That way if someone is badly hurt, or doesn't know how to use the app, it doesn't matter.

I know that this would greatly improve skydiving. I'm not the only person that lands off. I've seen 6,000 jump wonders land way the @#$% out as well. My biggest worry is that if I build this thing, nobody is going to care or want to use it.

For example, my idea would ensure that we never have another dead skydiver missing for a month while their body rots in a field waiting to be discovered. But sadly, I don't think dropzones necessarily care whether or not dead skydivers' bodies go missing for days.

So I don't know, maybe I'll go work on something else.

I doubt many DZs would spend much money to see this happen.

I do carry my phone on all jumps. I would not mind using my phone for this purpose, but I don't want to carry another one.

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[gb1 2]

Mr. Mega, The worst thing you can do is give up and be mad. Your problem came from barking back at some of these responders who have been in the game a long time. Don't take it personal. The high end of the people in this sport are the "inventors". Many times the original idea of an invention or new format becomes something much better with a different application. Like Viagra! Or the 3-ring life raft release, and balloon release. There is a place to re-invent the wheel, Otherwise, we would have Flintstone wooden wheels on our cars. Better yet to come up with the first one. These threads will often vary off on a tangent. Learn from it.Pursue your idea or flush it and put your mind on fixing a problem the jumpers are having at the DZ, depending on the direction of your interest. GB1

[DJL 232]

That hit the subject on the nose. Gonna be able to take very real criticism in the invention world. More often than not everyone will just watch from the sideline as you waste your money.


I think this is a very useful thing but he just needs to piggy-back on existing technology and hardware. It would be great to be able to ping people who landed off. The competing technology is something equivalent to Find My Iphone where you type in a password and get the phone's location on a map. I don't think it's useful to actively track an entire DZ full of skydivers or incur the cost of extra electronics.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[gb1 2]

Maybe an optional armband as suggested, with a tile, for off field or hurt jumpers that may not be able to dial. Completely separate from that expensive not needed system that is out there now.

[DJL 232]

gb1

Maybe an optional armband as suggested, with a tile, for off field or hurt jumpers that may not be able to dial. Completely separate from that expensive not needed system that is out there now.

Good luck getting skydivers to wear it. Nobody is buying or wearing something extra for such a rare set of circumstances. The best target group is CRW jumpers who typically bring a cell phone. The better market is those at an unfamiliar DZ for a big event and still the best you can get them to do is bring their own phone.

What I would do in such cases is create a list for attendees of their FindMyIphone log-in and then throw it away at the end of the event since it's typically the same as their normal password.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[megamalfunction 1]

Thanks for the feedback. It looks like people might be interested if the app could be run on jumpers personal phones. The only problem with that is that I'll have to find someone to help me write the iPhone version =\.

[gb1 2]

Just come up with a small tracking piece that can be used without a phone. Good phones are almost too big to jump with. That way anyone that wants one can use one and return it.

[BIGUN 1,051]

1. My android phone has an SOS function. If I hit the the power button 3 times in quick succession. It sends a text to the 3 people I've put in my list that I'm in trouble and sends them my location which they can hit the drive r walk icon and start and it takes them right to me.

2. There is an app called Glympse that you can set for up to 4 hours and it texts someone that you're on the app... if they have the app - they can view your location.

3. As to small tracking devices... they're already out there. Some the size of a quarter with a sticky back. Easy Google search.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[megamalfunction 1]

The "tracking device" would need to have LTE & GPS for it to work. I originally wanted to develop something for the Android Smartwatch because it's smaller than a phone, but it looks like it's still a pain in the ass to try and get cellular service for smartwatches.

Also, the "tracking stickers" that someone mentioned use bluetooth, which wouldn't work if your stuck in a field. It would only work if you were very close.