Among the usual daily spam of seo and traffic offers that this blog gets every now and then there is an email that makes me smile. Few days ago I got an email from Luke, a surfer from UK who designed something that could be called partly art, partly surf forecasting gadget. The idea behind the Surf window is to give everyone a chance to look through the window and check the surf. Some of you might be so lucky that you don’t really need this, but for the rest Surf window can help us. So if you every wanted to high five an octopus, this is what Surf window will do for you: “The Surf Window is an internet connected 3D picture made from a variety of laser cut woods, LED’s, motors and a micro controller. It moves and lights up to display realtime surf conditions for your local spot, or any break in the world.”
This is what you can see, looking “through” the Surf window:
- Wave height – little wooden waves move up and down indicating wave size
- Wind speed – check the lighthouse window
- Wind direction – which way is the seagull flying
- Tide – sand on the beach goes up and down just like on the real beach where you see more or less sand
- Swell period – check lights on the boat
- Weather conditions – check the color of the sun
- Magic Seaweed star rating – number of starfish which light up
- and if you high five the octopus Surf window will show conditions for a different beach.
Surf window connects and gets the data live from Magicseaweed so the forecast is always fresh. It is originally meant for people that need some motivation to go out and surf. You know, you can check the forecast on your phone, but it is quite different to check the forecast by quickly glancing through the window. I live so far from the nearest surfable wave that checking the forecast is for me the same as brushing my teeth. I do it automatically every day. Windswell chasing really can not be done without it. But Surf window is not only a forecasting gadget. It is also art and it can also be a mindsurfing device. I would set the spot to my favorite Playgrounds peak and mindsurf the wave everytime it gets good (and hi5 the octopus when finishing in the channel).
If you want to support Luke and Surf window, check hisa Kickstarter campaign.