New Apple Watch is a dive computer

[Joneill]

Based on this approach you could have every algorithm for example as an option, you could have what every computer offers available as apps in one place. Not just a customizable gradient, but basically take what you and create your customized computer. Are their other platforms that have this potential with app based approach?

As far as I’m concerned, there is only 1 algorithm that is suitable for recreational diving use and I already have that with customizable gradient factors (BTW - fully customizable GF should not be taken lightly as it can create a dangerous situation if one does not fully understand what GF’s control).

So… again, nothing truly disruptive here. It might be a good choice for those that want an all-in-one option in the Apple lineup - but nothing really groundbreaking here - which is not a critiricism.

 

[Thunder Struck]

Are we counting our chickens before they hatch? Creating hardened embedded firmware is not a trivial endeavor. Trying to recreate the same level of robustness in an app where you had no say in the design of the hardware platform and have little to no direct control of the hardware is expecting a miracle.

But it’s entirely possible for someone to simply take a dive table and extrapolate that into an algorithm and sell that as a dive computer software for the Apple Watch. If the consumer doesn’t have a clue and is simply shopping by price, why spend $200(++) for a Shearwater algorithm when I can get Bubba’s for $4.99?

 

[Blackcrusader]

As far as I’m concerned, there is only 1 algorithm that is suitable for recreational diving use and I already have that with customizable gradient factors (BTW - fully customizable GF should not be taken lightly as it can create a dangerous situation if one does not fully understand what GF’s control).

So… again, nothing truly disruptive here. It might be a good choice for those that want an all-in-one option in the Apple lineup - but nothing really groundbreaking here - which is not a critiricism.

I dive my Perdix in OC Tec mode with GF 45/95 for my NDL diving. I do have to pay attention to dive buddies who use DC's with different firmware as they often reach low time on NDL before I do over multiple dives over multiple days.

 

[divinh]

Forget the subscription! Think ad-based revenue stream! Ads pop up during a dive! If you're a newbie/infrequent diver, would you pay for something when you could get something for free with some ads?

Forget about dive computers locking you out! Clear app cache or uninstall/reinstall.

 

[ThatDogDontHunt]

... simply take a dive table and extrapolate that into an algorithm ...

That is not how it works. Dive tables are the output of a complex model. You can not deduce "the" model algorithm by examining the end result.

Running the model algorithm continuously in real time is also a challenge that very few people understand and are capable of achieving.

 

[Thunder Struck]

That is not how it works. Dive tables are the output of a complex model. You can not deduce "the" model algorithm by examining the end result.

Running the model algorithm continuously in real time is also a challenge that very few people understand and are capable of achieving.

But you don't think a couple programmers in India wouldn't take a crack at just to spin a few bucks?

 

[Thunder Struck]

Forget the subscription! Think ad-based revenue stream! Ads pop up during a dive! If you're a newbie/infrequent diver, would you pay for something when you could get something for free with some ads?

Forget about dive computers locking you out! Clear app cache or uninstall/reinstall.

I can see the market now: Would you like to extend this dive another 20 minutes? Click approve for only 99¢

 

[Taako]

Running the model algorithm continuously in real time is also a challenge that very few people understand and are capable of achieving.

Dive computer software development is an extremely small niche application. There are very few people skilled in the art. Based on the number of current dive computer manufactures, I would guess likely less than 100 people worldwide.

I'm new here, getting certified over the next two weeks (hi everyone!)

I just want to dispel this insane idea that somehow dive computer algorithms are so insanely complex that "very few" or "100 people worldwide" could understand/implement them. I'm a software engineer by profession, so when i learned about dive computers while reading the open water diver manual i was curious to and looked up the models

The Bühlmann decompression algorithm is open source and not difficult to implement. Here is just one implementation i found on github (of which there are dozens of varying degrees of complexity and customizability). I have never made an iOS or apple watch app, but it's not hard. I think there will be TONS of free dive computer apps for the apple watch and there will likely be a many apps out there that let you
choose which model you want to use (of the open source ones) and offer you customizability for you.

I work on embedded systems, and i've worked on mission-critical systems that work in the upper atmosphere. There are plenty of reasons to not trust the dive computer on apple watch, but there are also plenty of reasons to trust it, the dive computer app may ask the user to put the watch into a safety-critical mode (as an example) where multitasking is disabled and it drops into a single-thread state.

I think this is exciting innovation, i'll keep my eye on it and i think we should all be a little more open minded about the possibilities it unlocks; rather than pessimistically asserting that "it wont work for such and such reason".

 

[Thunder Struck]

I'm new here, getting certified over the next two weeks (hi everyone!)

I just want to dispel this insane idea that somehow dive computer algorithms are so insanely complex that "very few" or "100 people worldwide" could understand/implement them. I'm a software engineer by profession, so when i learned about dive computers while reading the open water diver manual i was curious to and looked up the models

The Bühlmann decompression algorithm is open source and not difficult to implement. Here is just one implementation i found on github (of which there are dozens of varying degrees of complexity and customizability). I have never made an iOS or apple watch app, but it's not hard. I think there will be TONS of free dive computer apps for the apple watch and there will likely be a many apps out there that let you
choose which model you want to use (of the open source ones) and offer you customizability for you.

I work on embedded systems, and i've worked on mission-critical systems that work in the upper atmosphere. There are plenty of reasons to not trust the dive computer on apple watch, but there are also plenty of reasons to trust it, the dive computer app may ask the user to put the watch into a safety-critical mode (as an example) where multitasking is disabled and it drops into a single-thread state.

I think this is exciting innovation, i'll keep my eye on it and i think we should all be a little more open minded about the possibilities it unlocks; rather than pessimistically asserting that "it wont work for such and such reason".

It's difficult to beat a purpose built device for a single purpose. I have a hard enough time going a few days on my iphone without needing to turn it off and restart it in order to get network connectivity back of fix whatever malady-dujour it comes up with. Can't wait to see that on a piece of life support equipment.

I'm sure there will be a market for dive software utilizing who-knows-what open source software with 3rd world developers trying to undercut each other. All vying to hook that person who isn't big into diving, rents all their gear, but now they can have a dive computer for the price of a "venti caramel macchiato non-fat with cinamon with a pump of chestnut-syrup and dark chocolate curls stirred in with a pump of white chocolate floating on top," while diving down 140+ feet into the blue hole at Belize. I mean, it's not like you can die, right?

 

[Bigbella]

It's difficult to beat a purpose built device for a single purpose. I have a hard enough time going a few days on my iphone without needing to turn it off and restart it in order to get network connectivity back of fix whatever malady-dujour it comes up with. Can't wait to see that on a piece of life support equipment.

Huish / Oceanic’s involvement was underwhelming enough . . .