| Hang Gliding and Smartphones. | | | | You can even set all the timers to start |
| 07/04 | | | | simultaneously. So after you've named them, just |
| Use a Smartphone in place of your PC or laptop. | | | | one click and they all start. The only problem with |
| 1. Portable Applications that you can control | | | | this is you almost have to land first to be able to |
| 2. Hang Gliding. By Robert Lett. | | | | stop the timers for your buddies. I've dropped |
| To see how to use your handheld like a | | | | my Smartphone quiet a few times, but that's only |
| professional, send an email with "ebook" in the | | | | from about 4 to 5 feet at most, and so far, it's |
| subject to receive a free version of the ebook at: | | | | survived each drop. I don't think any Smartphone |
| To subscribe to this newsletter, email use at: | | | | out there was meant to survive a 7000-foot |
| Portable Applications that you can control | | | | drop. (I haven't tried this yet)! I don't suggest you |
| By Chuck Schwartz | | | | try it either. I have a funny, non-fuzzy feeling it |
| Theres a history of success stories for large | | | | won't make it. |
| companies fielding mobile applications on handheld | | | | The ParaPhone: I have tried to design a small |
| computing devices. Whether helping track | | | | parachute for my Smartphone. But I haven't yet |
| packages, placing orders or taking inventories | | | | had the guts to actually give it a try. I guess I'm |
| enterprises have save millions of dollars each year | | | | just chicken! I would also need a beacon of some |
| by putting computing power directly into the | | | | kind to locate the phone in the middle of the |
| hands of their mobile workers. | | | | woods, or where ever it lands after leaving the |
| Unfortunately the same results have never been | | | | comfort of my Hang Glider harness. More on this |
| translated down to smaller organizations or work | | | | later - watch for updates. |
| groups. The number one reason for this mobility | | | | Most of the pilots use Amatuer radio's to |
| software systems are largely custom applications, | | | | communicate with one another. I'm just waiting on |
| created to meet specific tasks on a one up basis. | | | | the day where my Smartphone will incorporate at |
| This is fine when you are deploying hundreds or | | | | least the 2 meter and 7cm Amatuer bands. And |
| thousands of handhelds. There is an economy of | | | | a 1KHz to 1GHz scanner would also be nice! I'm |
| scale that reduces the cost per individual handheld | | | | still waiting. |
| to a very manageable level. But when translated | | | | The flight logs will also hold any notes you would |
| to smaller deployment counts something happens. | | | | like to make about another pilot. With mine, I |
| Since the cost for software doesnt change based | | | | keep radio information on each pilot I fly with. |
| around the number of handhelds deployed, Return | | | | Some use HAM radio and others use Hang Gliding |
| on Investment gets skewed, paybacks become | | | | specific radios which are in the 151MHz band. This |
| too long and projects dont get done. | | | | way I know which radio to carry with me so I |
| An emerging trend is to employ software | | | | can be on the same frequency. |
| generation tools for handheld computers that are | | | | Some of the more advanced flight decks with |
| easy enough to be used by non-programmers. | | | | incorporated GPS will give the entire flight history |
| This allows organizations to take control of their | | | | of the last 10 flights. This data is easiely sent to |
| own applications. Typically these systems are | | | | your computer for future use. With programs |
| forms replacement systems. The forms paradigm | | | | such as DocsToGo or MiniCalc/Chart you can |
| makes a lot of sense in these environments since | | | | view all your past flights from a particular site |
| the work being replaced onto the handheld | | | | graphically. The software outputs a comma |
| computer likely started as field forms on a | | | | delimited file that can be imported to a |
| clipboard. One of these products, Portable Forms | | | | spreedsheet program. As long as the spreedsheet |
| by Rovenet, is especially suited for these roles as | | | | program has charting capabilities, you can view |
| it can take existing paperwork and turn it into | | | | the graphs created from previous flights. Which is |
| data applications for handheld computers and | | | | nice to get a graph chart on your average flight |
| smartphones in minutes. | | | | times, site altitude, flight track, and distance. Now |
| Using patent pending On-Demand Programming | | | | when you are traveling, you just pull up the next |
| technology, Portable Forms users take existing | | | | location, and your flight trends are right there in |
| forms in editors like Microsoft Word and add | | | | the palm of your hand along with all the people |
| simple intelligence. This template document is then | | | | you met at that location. And all the contact |
| run through a web application that converts it into | | | | information you might need. |
| application code for Palm OS and PocketPC | | | | These GPS flightdeck units will usually have the |
| devices that connect and receive it wirelessly or | | | | following display capable: |
| during HotSync operations. Users then go out into | | | | Wind speed |
| the field and collect their information. Once a work | | | | Wind direction |
| cycle is complete they reconnect to the Internet | | | | Time of day |
| and Portable Forms delivers their information as | | | | Flight time |
| emails, web delivery, databases, faxes and other | | | | Speed over ground |
| means. | | | | Diff. speed between TAS and groundspeed |
| Using Portable Forms enterprises with as few as | | | | Altitude over destination |
| one field worker have seen Return on | | | | Distance to destination |
| Investment paybacks of a few months, often | | | | Bearing |
| even weeks. To learn more about this amazing | | | | Track |
| product go to | | | | Direction to best climb in vicinity |
| To see how to use your handheld like a | | | | Ambient temperature |
| professional, send an email with "ebook" in the | | | | Altimeter 2 (relative) |
| subject to receive a free version of the ebook at: | | | | Altimeter 3 (cumulated altitude) |
| To subscribe to this newsletter, email use at: | | | | Barometric pressure (HPa/in Hg) |
| Hang Gliding. By Robert Lett: | | | | Glide ratio (through air, over ground, to waypoint) |
| Zero to 5000 feet in 3 steps! With any type of | | | | You can check them out at: |
| flight, you must log your times and locations for | | | | I've gone to a few new spots that I was planning |
| upgrades to your license. With all the flight log | | | | to skip. And had to go online and search for |
| programs, you'll have to look at each one and see | | | | contacts to call for site permissions. I would just |
| which you might like to use. One of the one I use | | | | do this while sitting next the fire at the camp site |
| is real basic but it allows you to connect to your | | | | the night before showing up. Then, when I was |
| existing Palm Address Book to log your flying | | | | getting close to the new site, just give them a call |
| buddies. The really nice feature of these | | | | and pickup all the information I need. By the time |
| programs is that it allows you to see all the flights | | | | I arrived at the site, everyone was ready for me. |
| you've taken from a particular location, or all | | | | I knew what frequencies they used. What their |
| flights you have had in the last year where you | | | | procedures were and where to sign in. And of |
| broke 10,000 feet. It also allows you to analysis | | | | course, sign a waiver if need be. (People always |
| where you might seem to be having your best | | | | worry about you crashing or something)!? Usually, |
| flights from. (This way, if you're feeling down, just | | | | before hitting the sack and the camp ground the |
| go back to the place where you keep having | | | | night before, I email ahead to my contact list at |
| your best flights, and you are almost guarantied | | | | the original site, just to let them know I might be |
| to have a great day)! Most of these programs | | | | a few days behind. (Something about this sport |
| are for private pilot and beyond flight logging. But | | | | makes people paranoid when you don't call when |
| they work really well for Hang Gliding, Paragliding, | | | | plans change. I have no idea why! I've been |
| or any other type of sport flying. The last time I | | | | chewed-out by someone I didn't even know, for |
| was PIC (Pilot In Command) of a motorized | | | | not checking in with them). |
| aircraft was a C172 in 1987, this was the year I | | | | To see how to use your handheld like a |
| found Hang Gliding, and I've never looked back! | | | | professional, send an email with "ebook" in the |
| Timing of each flight is important. The clock | | | | subject to receive a free version of the ebook at: |
| programs usually have a stopwatch feature, they | | | | Find out more of what it's all about: |
| will either allow for counting up or down depending | | | | This document is under Copyright through Infinite |
| on what you want. Some of the flight log | | | | Data. You have permission to copy this document |
| programs also have this feature. With the flight | | | | in its' entirety and make duplicates. You may not |
| log programs, when you stop the clock, it | | | | change, add, or edit anything within the document. |
| automatically adds it to the flight log. You can | | | | Thank you for your help. |
| always edit it later if you let the time run too long. | | | | Subscribe to our free Newsletter, email us If you |
| Another nice thing about using the clock programs | | | | have any submissions or questions, please email |
| is that you should be able to time more than one | | | | us An Individual Armed with Information |
| thing at a time. Most clock programs will allow you | | | | Controls the Course of Negotiation |
| to name your timers. This will allow you to time | | | | Have it all with you, ANYTIME - ANYWHERE! |
| yourself along with 3 or 4 of your flying buddies. | | | | |