An Offline Network Offering Peak Performance

Thanks to massive build-outs of wireless communication infrastructure and advances in smartphone technology, we are accustomed to always being connected with the vast resources of the internet. But if you wander far enough, you will find that network coverage eventually comes to an end, leaving you disconnected from the digital world. Being offline doesn’t just mean that you can’t keep up with the latest memes on social media — it also means that you won’t have access to news reports, weather information, or emergency alerts.

That is especially concerning in the remote regions where network coverage is unavailable, like out at sea or in the mountains, because conditions can change rapidly, and being unaware of what is coming may lead to deadly consequences. A designer named Livia Schmid came up with an unconventional solution to tackle these problems in the Alps mountain range. A series of devices called Trail Sync were installed in this region to supply hikers with information where traditional communications channels are nonexistent.

Schmid’s Arduino-based device is powered by an ESP32 microcontroller, and is installed in a ruggedized case that is attached to trail marker signs throughout the mountains. It comes equipped with an e-ink display to show relevant information to passersby, and it can be powered by both sunlight or a hand crank to ensure that it is always accessible. There is even a button that allows users to translate the information into several different languages.

But since the Trail Sync boxes are offline, where does that information come from, you ask? It is contributed by hikers that use an offline smartphone app. If they happen to collect any official alerts during moments of network connectivity, those are stored. Users can also make personal contributions by making notes — perhaps about a rockslide covering part of a trail. As the hiker passes by a Trail Sync box, that information is wirelessly transmitted to it via Bluetooth. It can then later be shared with others that pass by, either via the on-device display, or the companion app.

This system may not be as convenient as the internet, but in mountainous environments where conditions can rapidly change, Trail Sync could help to avoid disaster. What other capabilities do you think this system should include to keep hikers safe without contact with the outside world?