Before I knew anything about technology, startup companies or accounting I was an outdoor fanatic (I still am, just need to be reintroduced to the wild). Until I moved to DC, I was an avid mountaineer, did a semester at NOLS, hit the crags and mountain biked like a fiend.
During senior year of college my passion was environmental policy, specifically involving wetlands. Unfortunately, I also found myself also enjoying technology (OMG, Urban!) and this was creating a conflict. For many, technology and nature are mutually exclusive. What do I mean? In our Outing Club, people would freak out when I brought my cell phone mountain biking, or my iPod hiking. I was criticized for wanting to move to Manhattan’ why not Boulder or Bend?
Anyway, one of my real interests is technology that can be used in the wilderness in a non-obtrusive, complementary manner. I’m currently reading the biography of Yvonne Chouinard the founder of Patagonia ’“ the book is awesome, BUY IT! Yvonne was a guy who helped bridge this gap. People don’t consider this but Patagonia clothing is really state-of-the-art stuff. However, because it’s not shiny and brightly colored you never think of it as modern technology.
This weekend, the Wall Street Journal highlighted just such a company bridging the nature/wilderness gap.
BirdJam is a company that integrates bird watching with iPods. With BirdJam, any North American bird song can be found within 15 seconds from the easily-accessed playlists organized by habitat and family. While Birding is likely not what the ’cool kids’ are into on the playground, I for one am much more likely to partake now that I don’t have to carry an identification book around with me.
Do you know of any other cool technologies that help synergize wilderness and technology? Please do tell’
