Dive computers of the future?

[scubadada]

All this talk about biometrics, and Scubapro are already trying to do this stuff with their new Mantis 2. Heart rate monitor, air integration and I think temperature measurements. It actively predicts your air usage.

No data to support this, would love to see it

 

[Derelict]

No data to support this, would love to see it

Yeah, same. Personally I wouldn't touch it anyway. It requires air integration to operate and it's still a watch style computer. With the AI module it's around $2000 AUD. Ridiculous.

 

[KeithG]

The rate of change in technology is incredible today. I'd be interested to get people's views of what a dive computer will look like in 10 or 15 years.

I think that they will be much thinner and flexible so they curve around your wrist; Batteries will be charged via some kind of wireless EMF. No buttons - all controls by touch on screen.

Perhaps some kind of venous or arterial monitoring to establish nitrogen absorption?

Better wireless integration for air monitoring?

Any other ideas?

Maybe it would make sense if people listed new technologies that actually have made a REAL difference since dive computers first became popular and mainstream. Think 1996. Twenty years ago...

I'll go first. Let's see, there is, hmmm, hang on just a minute, I am sure I will think of something...Nope. Nadda.

Ok - color screens. Oops not a real difference, just cosmetic.
Bluetooth? Also not a real difference, just a different way to link a dive computer to some other computer.
Battery technology? Nope. My 20 year old computer goes 3 to 5 years on a battery. I see some new computers that only go 3 to 5 dives...

Any real changes in the last 20 years?

 

[clownfishsydney]

Maybe it would make sense if people listed new technologies that actually have made a REAL difference since dive computers first became popular and mainstream. Think 1996. Twenty years ago...

I'll go first. Let's see, there is, hmmm, hang on just a minute, I am sure I will think of something...Nope. Nadda.

Ok - color screens. Oops not a real difference, just cosmetic.
Bluetooth? Also not a real difference, just a different way to link a dive computer to some other computer.
Battery technology? Nope. My 20 year old computer goes 3 to 5 years on a battery. I see some new computers that only go 3 to 5 dives...

Any real changes in the last 20 years?

Colour screens are a huge advance, expecially for dives at night or in poor visibility, do not need to put your torch on the computer to read. Also Nitrox which was not really available in computers 20 years ago, far better memory capabilities of new computers to record dives (my 1994 computer could only record 200 minutes of diving, today, 40 hours or more). The other big advance is price, my 1991 computer cost AUS$700 or so. My 1994 one over $1300, last week, I bought a new one (Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2) which is so much better than the others and it cost me less than these (of course considering inflation, much cheaper).

 

[Centrals]

Any real changes in the last 20 years?

I have yet to come across one that I want to replace my ageing Uwatec Aladin! Unfortunately the Aladin is on its last leg, the display is fading, so I am actively looking for one. The yet to appear Deep 6 is my target.

 

[KeithG]

Colour screens are a huge advance, expecially for dives at night or in poor visibility, do not need to put your torch on the computer to read. Also Nitrox which was not really available in computers 20 years ago, far better memory capabilities of new computers to record dives (my 1994 computer could only record 200 minutes of diving, today, 40 hours or more). The other big advance is price, my 1991 computer cost AUS$700 or so. My 1994 one over $1300, last week, I bought a new one (Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2) which is so much better than the others and it cost me less than these (of course considering inflation, much cheaper).

i claim you are mixing color displays with backlit displays. Having a large backlit display makes all the difference when trying to read a computer in low viz. Backlit displays are not new technology, my ancient Aladin has a backlit display.

The amount of memory is just a packaging issue (and really does not matter for the vast majority of divers).

Nitrox / number of gases is not a technology issue, it is simply a software programming issue.

Price? The technology in a PDC costs a handful of dollars (then and now). The price is mainly controlled by engineering, manufacturing and service issues.

There must be some technology that has changed things, but I can not think of one.

 

[dmaziuk]

Oh puhlease. Air integration. Ultrasonic comms for AI, buddy & boat location. Of course none of it "changes things": you can still dive tables.

 

[KevinNM]

Meanwhile, the underlying science of decompression, or at least our understanding of that science, is largely unchanged.

Deco research is very expensive to carry out. With the shift to ROVs/Atmosphere suits by industry and the military there isn't a lot of money available to carry out major studies.

 

[KeithG]

Oh puhlease. Air integration. Ultrasonic comms for AI, buddy & boat location. Of course none of it "changes things": you can still dive tables.

Air integration? Invented before I started diving. Oceanic Datamaster 1985ish...

 

[RainPilot]

A little bit of background info

Dive Computer Evolution