26 INNOVATION & TECH TODAY | 2020 YEAR-END ISSUE
The Hometown Explorer
By Jennifer Oladipo
When’s the last time you really took a look around? Your yard, neighborhood, or nearby park might be familiar, but there’s a lot you don’t see.
At a time when many people aren’t getting away, becoming a hometown explorer might be just the thing to break up the monotony. Day or
night, at home or at a park, in the city, country, or suburbs, check out these technologies and learn about your neck of the woods.Weather Stations
If getting the lay of the land isn’t for you, then look to the sky — and
everything in between — with a personal weather station. Wherever you are
in the world, microclimate is a little different from the climate everywhere
else. The weather conditions can differ from your local forecast, opening the
door to meteorology. A weather station gives you current weather conditions
and other details to better understand your microclimate over time.
The Extech Wireless weather station kit comes with an outdoor wireless
transmitter, while five built-in sensors include a self-emptying rain collector
for measuring rainfall. There are wind cups for wind speed, a wind vane for
wind direction, temperature and humidity sensors. It also sends data by a low
power radio frequency to a base station (maybe your back porch?) up to 450
feet away.Detectors
You could start with the ground under your feet, and
“look” even deeper with a metal detector. While some
people might associate them with lonely beach combers,
they’re actually a gateway to a lesson in science. You’ll get
a geology tutorial while researching your topsoil. Is it
limestone, sandy hard-packed clay, or highly mineralized?
The ACE Apex detector can get you the information
while allowing you to choose among multiple frequency
options. Metal detection also helps develop an
understanding of electromagnetic fields and how they
interact with the soil. Consider any treasure you might
find an added bonus.