Lavinsökning. Utveckling av lavintransceiver

Abstract

The work has been focused on conceptual development of an avalanche transceiver. A transceiver is as big as two average sized mobile phones. In common for all avalanche transceivers is the send signal of 457 kHz who is set by law. Transceivers are used in skiing backcountry to search for avalanche victims and should be worn by each person in a group. If one or a couple of persons are caught in an avalanche the ones that got away can search for the victims. The interest of skiing and the seriousness of avalanches was a teaser to work with this equipment. After talking to both experts and novices the whole concept was questioned. The search for new technique was the first step. But no technique was superior from the present one. Instead the present transceivers were investigated. A few questions came up for development. Ergonomy, Interface and Form was the main focus. Basically the whole concept. The work continued with studies and analyses of interface and ergonomy. The parameters to work after was to make the transceiver as clear and simple as possible. The form would fit several hand sizes, the interface would give the necessary information and the harness would fit women and men in different volumes and sizes. The sketching was a base for the brainstorm and the brainstorm was the base for four concepts. One concept was developed with influence from the other. This concept was to keep present handling of the transceiver but to develop it. The result is for example a big black display with white graphics and a clear manual button for search mode. The transceiver is drop shaped with a clear attachment to the harness and a clear direction. The form fits different hand sizes and is not much bigger than the smallest transceiver on the market. The harness is put on like a vest and fits women and men with different shapes and sizes.