Any parent who has lost sight of their child on a busy ski hill can tell you about the immediate panic as they frantically scan the slopes to pick them out of the crowd.
Penticton91裸聊视频檚 Keith MacIntyre experienced that scenario 10 years ago when he and his son became separated while skiing.
91裸聊视频淲e found him on the bunny hill about 45 minutes later, he was fine,91裸聊视频� MacIntyre said.
But the experience got him thinking there must be a way for parents to keep track of their kids, and for other skiers to see where their friends are on the hill. That91裸聊视频檚 when MacIntyre, who has run a software consulting firm for 20 years, came up with skiKrumb.
It91裸聊视频檚 a small device, that can be tucked into a pocket, which transmits a GPS location via low-frequency radio.
91裸聊视频淎 ski resort is a challenging environment,91裸聊视频� MacIntyre explained. 91裸聊视频淭echnology like cell and mesh networks just don91裸聊视频檛 work on ski hills.91裸聊视频�
It took a few years to find the right technology but MacIntrye perfected skiKrumb, including infrastructure at a ski resort, so it can track someone with the device on an interactive map downloaded to a smart phone. That tweak was added for this ski season.
91裸聊视频淲e can cover a larger area of the mountain than other technologies can,91裸聊视频� he added.
skiKrumb was launched last year and is currently in use at Big White, Apex, Sun Peaks, Revelstoke, and Mt. Sima in Yukon. MacIntyre said the feedback has been incredible.
91裸聊视频淲e used it at the ski school at Big White and they loved it. Our customers last year said it changed their entire skiing experience and they91裸聊视频檒l never ski without it again.91裸聊视频�
MacIntyre noted expansion plans include two to five more hills this year.
91裸聊视频淚 would say in a couple of years we91裸聊视频檒l have most Canadian resorts and will expand into the U.S. next year.91裸聊视频�
skiKrumb also presents other opportunities, he added.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had a lot of interest in it for kids walking to school, lone workers, hiking by yourself, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.91裸聊视频�
MacIntyre91裸聊视频檚 invention was recently named a top 10 startup in the New Ventures BC Competition, taking third place.
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