UP: Lighted Orientation Device

[rthorntn]

Brilliant, this guy wants $200K to build a lit spirit level bubble:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1205141447/up-lighted-orientation-device

The video is a classic.

[MacAttak]

Heh. I really want to believe that this one is intended to be a playful commentary on the fact that damn near any stupid idea can get accepted by Kickstarter and possibly get funded. So I refuse to watch the video. I'm worried that he might actually be serious.

[PointyOintment]

I watched the video. I think it's supposed to be a parody.

[sleemanj]

Maybe you don't remember your school lessons about mountain safety... maybe that's just an NZ thing.

Being buried under snow can (so I was taught) be completely disorienting, you can mistake up for down, which if you are trying to get out, might be a bad thing.

So the idea is not entirely as silly as the presenter sounds.

[PointyOintment]

Being buried under snow can (so I was taught) be completely disorienting, you can mistake up for down, which if you are trying to get out, might be a bad thing.

True, but I believe what you're supposed to do in that case is wave your head around while the avalanche slows down and stops, to make some space to breathe, and then spit and see which way it falls. You wouldn't be able to easily get the UP out and in front of your face while buried.

[hlokk]

Unless you're covered in a small amount of snow, you're not going to dig your way out anyways. What you need is an avy beacon and buddies with a shovel and snow probes. Although, some of the airbag or avalung technologies aren't bad, I don't think there's much point in knowing which way is up if you're not going to be able to get out of the situation by yourself anyways.