this post was submitted on 12 May 2024
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[–] [email protected] 137 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

TrailSense, an easy to use, comprehensive wilderness tool.

The goals of the developer are fun to consider:

Goals

  • Trail Sense must not use the Internet in any way, as I want the entire app usable when there is no Internet connection

  • Features must provide some benefits to people using the app while hiking, in a survival situation, etc.

  • Features should make use of the sensors on a phone rather than relying on stored information such as guides

  • Features must be based on peer-reviewed science or be verified against real world data

Likewise, the features being developed under those goals are great for getting outside:

Features

  • Designed for hiking, backpacking, camping, and geocaching
  • Place beacons and navigate to them
  • Follow paths
  • Retrace your steps with backtrack
  • Use a photo as a map
  • Plan what to pack
  • Be alerted before the sun sets
  • Predict the weather
  • Use your phone for astronomy
  • And more
[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How does the metal detector work? I've never heard of a phone being able to do that.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago

It uses the magnetic field sensor on the phone (compass). It can only detect magnetically active metals and also kinda weakly, but it's quite fun!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

Trailsense is amazing

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Downloaded it and I love it!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Can't wait to take a picture of a trailhead map and try tracking myself on it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

It works pretty well! I found in my one quick test that a pair of known points on a diagonal offer the best tracking. Definitely need to play with that feature again.