I was thinking of developing an app where when someone is sailing, they could report the non-measurable conditions... e.g. Great Day for sailing, Great Day for drifting..... and it would provide a location via GPS..... This way one could decide whether to go or not if they are on the fence..... Just a thought..... Would you use it? Would your put it's a crappy day out to keep the waters for yourself..... Any thoughts? Thanks.. Jon
Thinking of Developing an App
- Thread starter PGIJon
- Start date
There are currently a ton of apps that tell wind and water conditions, and weather. But none of them that I know of tell the human condition while out and about. That could have some benefit. However, there has to be a WOW factor or it will just be another app on the Play/iTunes store. I would thing that not only what the conditions are like by observation, but additional data such as course, boat speed, wind speed would also benefit the guy/gal who thinks they want to go out. Kind of like a "waze" for sailors.
For those that don't know, "waze" is a mobile app/website that gives up-to-day surface street conditions. Such as traffic jams, police (coast guard?) activities, and more.
For those that don't know, "waze" is a mobile app/website that gives up-to-day surface street conditions. Such as traffic jams, police (coast guard?) activities, and more.
Thanks Brian.... Kind of like AIS with conditions? More of a social sailing app???? Maybe I could limit it to SBO owners.... -Jon
Jon:
The problem I see is sailors want to know the conditions when they plan to sail not necessarily whats happening now. Even if you want to know whats happening now, all weather apps tell you that. That being said, you may be on to something with the social aspect. Would be great for communicating where the orcas, fish, or raft-ups are. Open it to all boaters not just sailors.
The problem I see is sailors want to know the conditions when they plan to sail not necessarily whats happening now. Even if you want to know whats happening now, all weather apps tell you that. That being said, you may be on to something with the social aspect. Would be great for communicating where the orcas, fish, or raft-ups are. Open it to all boaters not just sailors.
How about adding via blue tooth the on board instruments?
1) Actual Wind speed and direction
2) GPS location
3) Sonar Depth ( clever way to show sea conditions on a flat bottom)
4) SOG
Simple selectable current weather conditions.
Jim...
1) Actual Wind speed and direction
2) GPS location
3) Sonar Depth ( clever way to show sea conditions on a flat bottom)
4) SOG
Simple selectable current weather conditions.
Jim...
Sailors as a whole are independent and self reliant. If weather is the issue they usually want to be able to interpret the raw data and come to their own conclusions. I don't think you will find a market in the sailing community. Fishermen are quite similar so perhaps not there either. The big yachts have equipment to look at the weather in real time. It sounds more like a social media entertainment type app to share impressions. I applaud that you are doing your market research before any development; I could be wrong but I don't think there would be a significant market for it. What is crappy weather for some is an opportunity for brisk sailing for others.
SOG,GPS can be taken from the phone.. Bluetooth maybe too dependent on a particular system. Probably should limit this to SBO users.... or at least offer that limiting option... i generally don't like that people know I'm not home.... Any thoughts on a name for the app?
I think it was Edison who said invention is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration. Until you have something real, I'd call it vaporware.
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It seems that some like the idea so perhaps they might be willing to contribute funds towards your development costs. Let us know how you make out.
I haven't warmed up to the whole "apps" culture. Much to other people's annoyance, I tend to put my phone away when on the boat. I generally put it in a location that I can't reach easily, and I always forget about it until I hear one of those annoying ring tones that I so despise (and usually ignore). I guess I'm one of those odd people who just doesn't want to be bothered with electronic toys when I'm otherwise occupied, which is all the time when I'm on the boat.
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
Hey, you said it, not us!
Now, if I could just figure out if it was really going to rain or not when the forecast is "30% chance"...
This presents an interesting dilemma. How would this app benefit regional sailors? It would have to be setup on a database by what? Zip code? Maybe marina location. I know you said it would have GPS coordinates, but that would require map data which in itself is a data hog. Just some random thoughts,
Here are the functions I was think about..... What is needed for sailors to "Warm-Up" to it as Scott pointed out?
· Sailing Tracker - which would include the "non measurable" attributes.... While map data is a hog... the bigger hog is GPS.... I am currently looking to see if anyone has solved this problem in the development community.
· Sailing Logbook - Automatically filled, with a comments entry.
· Sailing To Do List - Simple Database....
I'm not worried about the funds at this point.....
· Sailing Tracker - which would include the "non measurable" attributes.... While map data is a hog... the bigger hog is GPS.... I am currently looking to see if anyone has solved this problem in the development community.
· Sailing Logbook - Automatically filled, with a comments entry.
· Sailing To Do List - Simple Database....
I'm not worried about the funds at this point.....
This simply means that: In within a forecast area, in the the forecast period, that measurable precipitation WILL FALL in 30% of the forecast area.
The forecasters now have shifted to a percentage representing coverage. The problem is that by making the forecast area too large the forecasts have become practically useless. Our home area here in Tampa is composed of a number of counties with a radius of about 100 miles from center. This means that residents in the outer perimeters could be 200 miles away from each other and that the weather at one end could be very different from the weather at the other end. Years ago before these fancy Doppler radars and when the qualifications for a weather girl had nothing to do with science I remember that almost all summer long they would post a daily forecast of 20% chance of rain. If you got rain you said well there was a chance and I got it and you got none then you would say, the chances were low and I did not get any. On the other hand, on those days that they posted 40% of higher you were almost sure to see some rain. Now they say there is a chance for a 60% coverage of the area and in my neck of the woods it could be sunny all day. I understand the forecasters like it because they can claim to be correct most of the time but I thought this service was for the public. I have reverted back to the old ways, look at the forecast then look out the window and make up my own. Surprisingly I'm better at forecasting rain chances in my section of the area than the TV gurus. I don't care about coverage all I want is rain chances in my small area. When I want to go sailing I will go to NOAA weather and get a more detailed forecast than just rain chances or coverage percentage.