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Re: (meteorobs) computers and visual meteor observing
In a message dated 96-08-03 15:32:55 EDT, you write:
<< As for George's comment that the old-fashioned plotting of meteors is
probably just as fast and accurate as the digital kind, I'd have to agree,
with present technology. However, the *archiving and analysis* of plotting
data COULD BE a whole lot easier with digitized plots, couldn't it? I guess
the digipad would be one alternative to consider, e.g. vs. getting folks to
scan their paper plots...
Lew
>>
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Lew,
I think there will be a lot of difficulties in getting good plots using the
method that's being kicked around with the computer. No doubt the digipad
would be quicker to get what is recorded in the field...if developed...But
this method is only as good as the individual who does the visual sighting
and transferring that data to some recording means. If you are fumbling
around to find the keys and getting setup to type in the info.... along with
other distractions that will easily make you forget at just what spot did
that meteor appear and disappear, you are going to have lots of bad data.
What good is it to have data entered for archiving and analysis quicker if
the data is of lesser quality? The idea is to get the plot down as accurately
as possible and then at leisure the data can be entered into the computer.
The only way I can see that the computer will ever have an advantage here is
if the computer had some way of recording it automatically what a computer
sensor system actually see's. Thus by passing the visual observer entirely.
If you can't somehow by-pass the individual who normally does the plotting,
I think you are wasting your time. This now seems to go back to photographic
equipment...perhaps a video system would be a workable place to match up such
a system? Before anyone designs anything like this, I think it will save you
a lot of work in the long run by learning how to plot and doing it quite
extensively for at least a year (about 100 hours worth of effort for
experience). You will then see what kind of problems you are going to face.
Sounds like you are trying to design something without having a clue as to
what is really involved. I mentioned somewhere in a previous message about
manually plotting and the computer method that's being discussed is just as
accurate. With more thought on this, I'll have to revise my thinking to say
that I don't think the computer will ever be better than the manual plotter
as long as the human element is still there to make the ultimate decisions. I
base this simply on the apparent increase of distractions (that is different
things to do that will cause your mind to think about other than what you are
trying to remember to record...namely, just where was that meteor actually
at? etc.
GeorgeZ.