What if Shearwater made a purely recreational computer???

[Hawkwood]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

A number of "off topic" posts have been deleted. Really folks, take your bickering to PMs.

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[DevonDiver]

If the original question was "what if Shearwater made purely recreational dive computers?"..... and the purpose of the thread is to 'blue skies' think and suggest the functionality that could be incorporated into such a device.... then I think that a 'slut rec mode' is definitely on-topic. Given the quality of modern screens.... coupled with the popularity of pornography, I see no reason why Shearwater couldn't meet demand with supply. After all, the vast majority of 'dry' computers are used for pornography viewing. So why not wet computers...?

Of course, it doesn't have to be 'slut rec'.... I guess you could download and transfer (via bluetooth or usb) any form of digital entertainment media... films, tv shows, music videos etc....

Ironically, tech divers might even be interested in something like that for their long deco hangs..... certainly beats a soggy paperback clipped to a deco bar...

Going beyond that..... as Shearwater uses open-source algorithms... why not open up the software for 3rd party applications... like an Android phone... games, facebook, twitter, skype, ..... we spend half our lives with our eyes on a phone screen. Why not continue that habit underwater?

On surface intervals... with a bluetooth keyboard... you could chat with your friends. If someone made a waterproof blue-tooth keyboard... well, the sky is the limit...

And how about colors? Black is sexy tekkie... but I am sure there's some rec divers that'd want a version in duck-egg blue... or cherry pink.... with diamante. They could do a 'Hello Kitty' special edition for the girls... what special edition would the guys want?

Users could choose their own alarms. I mean... 'beep beep beep' went out with brick Nokias... why can't we download and install the latest Justin Bieber melody to warn us of max PPO2? A bit of Miley Cyrus to keep us out of deco?

What would be your favorite alarm tunes?

Deco Alarm - 'Highway to Hell', ACDC or 'Long Dark Road', The Hollies
Depth Alarm - 'Don't Stop Me Now' or 'Under Pressure', Queen
PPO2 Alarm - 'Shake Your Booty', KC and the Sunshine Band or 'The Twist', Chubby Checker

 

[jhnmdahl]

It seems unlikely that Shearwater would expend the cost to engineer an entirely new hardware platform (display, processor, housing, etc.) for the rec market, but entirely plausible that they could add a couple hardware elements such as a low frequency RF receiver and a speaker to the Perdix platform and develop a rec computer from that. Only problem is, it includes parts and design effort that only adds to what was in the Perdix. Eventually the increased sales volume may drive down the price of both the rec and tech computers, benefiting all customers, but only if the rec computer sells in strong numbers.

So, you end up with a Perdix that all the techies love, ironically in part because it CAN'T do some things, and a rec computer that costs $100 more even before you buy an air pressure transmitter that is hard to sell and is a fully capable tech computer. Nevertheless, rec is a much bigger market, and I have to imagine Shearwater will be watching Atomic's wrist computer directed to the high-end rec market closely.

 

[dmaziuk]

And how about colors? Black is sexy tekkie... but I am sure there's some rec divers that'd want a version in duck-egg blue... or cherry pink.... with diamante. They could do a 'Hello Kitty' special edition for the girls...

You mean like OSTC sport?

Sarcasm aside, modularity vs integration is always an on-going tug of war. If you're after the latter: just put your cellphone in a case with DiveNav's sensor pods.

Low ATR: coming up for air, leather strip.

 

[NAM001]

For those that want AI in your computer how would this sound. You buy the rebreather model and instead of connecting the rebreather you connect a connection from a hp sensor. Have a menu to choose sonnection none, rebreather, AI. then its all software. YOu dont want AI dont buy the software. That would make the rebreather port liken to a usb port on your desktop.

Yea there are propblems inherant of course.

 

[Rich Keller]

This thread was started because another thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/co...zers/519628-shearwater-coming-out-new-dc.html) diverged into many different topics, and splitting it out into all of them was too big a job.

In that thread, one diverging discussion was related to whether Shearwater should make a computer that focused solely on the recreational diving market.

Professionals don't use dive computers. They are all recreational.

 

[tursiops]

Professionals don't use dive computers. They are all recreational.

Perhaps you need to define what you mean by "professionals" and "recreational." You seem to be using these words differently than others are using them.

 

[Reku]

Professionals don't use dive computers. They are all recreational.

Uh ... you're going to need to elaborate. Professional rebreather divers use computers.

 

[Stoo]

My guess is that the folks at Shearwater can hardly keep up with the demand for their products as it is. I also think that if they were to start mass-producing recreational computers, they would need to outsource their manufacturing to some sweat-shop in Asia, compromising the quality and by extension, their reputation.

I also don't believe that the owners of Shearwater are motivated by money or fame. My guess is that are motivated by producing a unique, kick-a$$ bit of kit.

Wait until Bruce and Lynn retire and sell the company to Huish Outdoors, who will then begin to mass-produce the Air Integrated Recreational computer some of you crave so dearly.

And it shall be called (in the tradition of naming the computers after birds) The Partridge, in honour of the founders. ;-)

 

[Reku]

My guess is that the folks at Shearwater can hardly keep up with the demand for their products as it is. I also think that if they were to start mass-producing recreational computers, they would need to outsource their manufacturing to some sweat-shop in Asia, compromising the quality and by extension, their reputation.

I also don't believe that the owners of Shearwater are motivated by money or fame. My guess is that are motivated by producing a unique, kick-a$$ bit of kit.

Wait until Bruce and Lynn retire and sell the company to Huish Outdoors, who will then begin to mass-produce the Air Integrated Recreational computer some of you crave so dearly.

And it shall be called (in the tradition of naming the computers after birds) The Partridge, in honour of the founders. ;-)

They can't retire! I won't let them