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Surfing on a Surfboard
JamesD_UK writes "The BBC is running an article about a surfboard developed by Intel with an embedded, solar powered, wifi capable, laptop with web cam attached. It features a 1.7GHz processor and a 80GB hard drive. The camera is able to create videos and transmit them through an access point located on the beach. Jools Matthews of Gulfstream surfboards designed the board itself and pro surfer Duncan Scot helped with the design of the board to make sure that the board still performed well with the extra weight. The board debuts at the Gold Coast Ocean Festival 2004 from 18 to 20 June at Croyde beach in North Devon."
Hmmm.
For the Flashless people out there, a link to the actual content of the Gold Coast Ocean Festival 2004 site. I really don't know if you want to see it though, as you'll end up seeing what seem to be Intel engineers in wet suits. That page still has some flash, but at least you can access most everything without it.
This should be filed in the "What will they think of next" category.
;-)
Interesting idea, but I'm not sure of the real-world application besides the coolness/geekness factor
-Henry
--- #@$DF@#2%@^%3^&*$%FRHG%%[NO CARRIER]
Other than PR value? When do I get my wi-fi enabled rollerblades and sandals? I mean, after all, God forbid any of us be off the grid for more than a microsecond.
Don't be a looter...and yes, I know that it's spelled with an "A" instead of an "E".
In Brighton (UK) you can surf on the beach with the free PierToPier wifi connection.
Paul Lenhart writes words!
"What's wrong dude?"
"I was getting ready to catch this narly wave when my surfboard caught a Blue Screen Of Death."
"Bogus!"
If you can read this sig - the bitch fell off.
This solves the problem I've had for years. How do I turn athletic, good-looking people into nerds? Once I do that, I can rule the world and get their women!
Best Windows Freeware
*glub* *glub* *glub*
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
A better application of technology would have been to put a micronized mp3 playing into the board so you could have your own sound track playing while barreling down a wave.
That a good way to protect the sharks. When they hear Celine Dion comming from the surf board... They will not attack because you have bad taste.
Will the Wifi signal attract sharks?
Yes... and even if there wasnt any WiFi, the EM from the computer would also attract them.
But in order to make sure the sharks don't mistake the surfboard shape with some prey, I think some case lighting should be added, EL wires, cold cathodes, etc. to the underside of the surfboard.
But just in case, don't leave home without your shark countermeasures.
Seems to be a very good testing ground for durabl touch screen displays. Sun, sand, water and salt. Gotta be more fun than testing for resistance to these things in a lab.
I'd laugh if it didn't work when they got it out of the water though!
I hate this argument. Yes, it would be nice if more people were to help solve our problems, but it's unreasonable to expect that everybody focuses thier attention on that. Besides, who's to say that this technology isn't adapted successfully for wheelchairs?
--
"Insert witty quote here."
While most people seem to be passing this idea off, this really could lead to some cool photos/videos coming from the water. Granted, the technology would probably need a lot of tweaking. It may not seem all that worthwile of a product to develop, but I do think there is slightly more use to this than most people seem to be giving credit for.
Plus, I am a geek, so I will probably be the one on those beaches trying to get onto the wireless networks that they are using.
-mike