QotD: Beam Me Up
If you could make a magic wish for a futuristic gadget or high-tech innovation, what would your item do?
Submitted by Red Pen.
Just one?! As a geek runner, I'll limit myself to wishing for a super-duper running gadget. This gadget would be a watch-like device (similar to the form factor of a Garmin Forerunner but hopefully smaller) with additional peripherals connected wirelessly (probably via bluetooth). It would have the following functionality:
- Global Positioning System receiver (GPSr) using SIRF technology and WAAS enabled (and maybe even some redundant/additional location determination using cellular signals)
- Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) function with the HRM strap not being made of plastic
- MP3 player that is compatible with iTunes but with absolutely no DRM (headphones would be wirelessly connected)
- Optional addition of a foot pod so that this device could also be used on a treadmill.
- Weather information: temperature, humidity, and even one of those sun burn warning indicators
- Training log file would be downloadable via gpx file format (i.e. the format would not be proprietary).
- 2 megapixel digital camera integrated
- Device would be SD or MMC card capable for training log file, picture, and music storage.
Comments
Tazer so you can run wherever you want whenever you want and zap people like Halo2.
Dog whistle. I just want to mess with 'em and have fun sometimes.
My coded housekey so I don't need a key anymore.
Reloadable (ie Starbucks card) purchasing Water/GU capability so I'm scanned at various runner-friendly fuel stores.
Treemapper. I want to know what species each of the 26,000 trees are I pass in Central Park on my route.
Same with the birds.
"Scent" Marker. It wouldn't be a "smell" per se but kind of the same territorial effect that make the next dogs go crazy sniffing where someone just was. So you're running and all of a sudden your SDRG (superduperrunninggadget) pings you because someone else's mark is nearby, and then it tells you who that was and how long ago the mark was left.
Ice Scorching Ray (ISR). Rips through the ice to form my path as I run.
Pavement Scorching Ray (PSR). Rips through pavement so I'm running on a soft dirt path.
Wireless Snot Obliterator so I don't have to clear my nose and almost nail a passing cyclist like I nearly did this week.
VOX Runners Group live biometric sharing.
It should probably still tell you what the o'clock is.