Update from the YET
Update from the YET (Young Explorers Trust) Standing Forum on Youth Expeditions19th October 2010
Our Operations Director Julian Penney, attended the YET Standing Forum on Youth Expeditions on 19th October. One of the keynote addresses was on the use of IT on expeditions. A summary of some of the findings are below.
Use of IT on Expeditions
IT can and has been used from nursery school age upwards and is widely used on expeditions. IT is however no substitute for the real experience but merely complementary and not replace traditional skills. Some believe technology reduces risk but in fact it helps to manage risk.
Using IT before you depart on expedition
Technology can help teams and parents to do valuable research before departure
- Blogs - search for expedition blogs – first hand, often up to date info.
- Google Earth - look at expedition areas on Google Earth – this can be used as a research tool for Challengers and for briefing the team and parents. It gives an impression of the expedition area, terrain, possible routes etc.
- Facebook – for the teams to connect with each other and past customer before departing to share tips and stories
Probably most important recent IT development has been in expedition communications
- Sat phones or EPIRB
- Mobile phones - newer technology give greater opportunities in the field e.g. surf web, weather forecasts, web cams access. Coverage is always extending and you can use local cheap SIM cards (not for emergencies)
- GPS systems
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