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."

At the beach

[SYSS Mouse]

I suppose while you are ar beach you are supposed to be away from your boss, work, geek collagues, and such. At least it is eco-friendly (solar powered).

Some may decry this as useless

[PhysicsGenius]

I however am thinking of the future. How many "surfer dudes" are going to learn about computer and science because of this? How many of them will subsequently combine their interests and become marine biologists or oceanographers? If the cause is increased understanding of our world then I say "Put those chips in surfboards!"

Just the start of something

[jupiter909]

It's a good idea, it's going to start of all bulky, and in time it will be scaled down. Anyone that lives at a prime surf spot, as I did. J-Bay, would like this sort of technology. I could catch some waves and if the boss called or I got some work that needed attention, I could read what it was and then decide to spoil my perfect surf session.

Surfing is something that you LOVE with a passion. Work sadly has to be done, and if I can avoid work by reading my mail and making choices out there on the backline waiting for the next set, then hell yeah, I'd do it.

Technology has to start somewhere. It's taken man how many years to build the 747 from the first flight, it's just a matter of time, before pda/pc surfboards are practicle.

It would be nice to see what is going on at other surf spots too, and to capture that perfect tube ride and email to friends, or post to site straight away.

Thats my 2 cents worth.

Real world application

[doodlelogic]

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!

Photographer's dream

[mrn121]

While I am not a professional photographer/videographer, I do know that photographing and videotaping surfing is largely restricted due to the problems related to having lots of expensive equipment in the water. Currently, a lot of the video/pictures you see of surfers are from land, and they aren't nearly as cool as the shots from the water, inside the tube.

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

Re:Real world application

[The_REAL_DZA]

Ah, the many (and strange) interconnections within our lives; your last statement reminded me of a bit of trivia I came across just this week at The Jargon Dictionary in the definition of Kluge [astrian.net] From the def:

"...Other sources report that `kluge' was common Navy slang in the WWII era for any piece of electronics that worked well on shore but consistently failed at sea."

I guess if it didn't work on shore (but worked well in the water) they'd have to call it an "Egulk"...