Yes it would be very "educational" to find out how these folks verify their
accuracy;-)
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Blankenship <jblanken@itds.com>
To: <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: Autocross Timing/Scoring Software
> Paul Foster wrote:
> > Clay Horste wrote:
> > >
> > > Wouldn't environmental variables such as elevation, surface, humidity
etc.
> > > give more accuracy error from event to event than the hardware or OS.
I
> > > would think that as long as precise within the same event. I just
> > > wonder if we are nitpicking the wrong things here.
> >
> > There have been numerous times where millisecond resolution was
> > necessary to determine the outcome of an autocross. Speaking of
> > nitpicking there is a difference between precision and accuracy. What is
> > needed is actually precision. The accuracy is of lesser consequence.
> > Take the '89 Nationals as an example. Oh, never mind. That's already
> > been talked to death...
>
> '89 Nationals - I don't think I've heard that story. (groan from the
> audience, I'm sure)
>
> Yes, precision is more important than accuracy for this application, but
> really both are important. If you had to switch to backup timing
> equipment in mid-event, you'd prefer that both systems were accurate.
>
> Thermal drift and humidity effects can be significant, but good design
> can compensate for real-world extremes. Performance specs would
> tell you what the accuracy and precision is within a temp and humidity
> range, but I don't remember anyone publishing this for their stuff.
>
> Now instead of speculating on hypothetical design shortcomings, has anyone
> actually compared two or more different systems to see if there are
> differences?
>
> As an engineer who does testing for a living, I think it would be a great
> challenge to come up with an objective test scheme to measure how the
> various systems perform. In fact, I think I'll be asking prospective
> timing vendors to explain their procedures they used to determine that
> their system actually works, and what the results were. That could be
very
> "illuminating"!
> --
> Jeffrey D. Blankenship Senior Technical Consultant
> jblanken@itds.com ITDS - TRIS
> neon enthusiast #478 Champaign, IL, USA
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