An American company has announced plans to add information screens to the pull down safety bars on some larger chairlifts with the first screens due to go in to operation next winter.
Alpine Media Technology, a new business, has reached agreement with Steamboat and Winter Park resorts in Colorado to install the screens.
The company's business model is that it pays the resorts to have the screens on its chairlifts, deriving revenue, which it shares with the resort, from advertising sales.
The screens, known as 'LiftDigital' have their own independent power source which is automatically re-charged with every pass around the bull wheels at the top and bottom of the lift.
Each chairlift bar will house 4 to 8 of the small screens depending on the size of the lift and the screens can also be installed within gondola cabins.
Besides advertising the screens will display digital trail maps, trails and lift status information and any current safety advice from across the ski area. Other information such as weather reports and details of road traffic conditions on access roads will also be included.