There's a perception problem. I don't think anyone
thinks that we can computerize everything immediately.
But it is possible to take steps in the direction of
automation. Jerry's website was a great first step. It
existed in parallel with paper results for a long time
and now we are seeing interest in dropping paper
results.
Yes, I'd love to "bluetooth" every cone and car out
there, have a 802.11b wireless stations for self
registration at events, but that's a little too far.
I work every day in an R+D group integrating laptops
and 802.11b - and there are lots of problems that
occur. One god thing is that the price is dropping
fast.
Babysteps.
--- Jerry Mouton <jerry@moutons.org> wrote:
> Chris,
>
> Well, go to it! If a team of people can demonstrate
> a working, easy to use, fail-resistant system that
> has significant improvements over the current
> system,
> or even one with no immediate downside and some
> visible future gain, we'd jump on it.
>
> I'd be amazed, since I have implemented two such
> systems --
> one for AYSO soccer, one for Little League. We
> didn't find it to be trivial, and significant
> investment
> in equipment and personal time was required. These
> systems were successful, and were used for at least
> the
> several years that I was in charge of that area.
>
> Take over, go forward. Set up a group who already
> have
> laptops, make a plan, develop the system. I'd even
> contribute
> all my perl scripts for results. I would even help
> if a real
> project were under development, with appreciable
> advantages.
> Should be minimal up front costs for a barcode
> reader, just
> to demonstrate operational characteristics. Heck,
> I'd contribute
> the barcode reader to a serious group with a
> feasible plan.
>
> Give us progress reports.
>
> Jerry
>
> Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org
> Laissez les bons temps
> rouler!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Warner" <jabrwoky@pacbell.net>
> To: "Bay_Area_Autocross_List"
> <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 10:02 AM
> Subject: RE: Preregistration and computerized
> timing/scoring
>
>
> > A poor choice of words on my part.
> >
> > I am refering to peoples resistance to change.
> "If it ain't broke don't
> fix
> > it" attitude. I see it all the time in my line of
> work. People get so
> used
> > to a certain methodology or process, that they
> fail to see the potential
> to
> > optimize the process.
> >
> > as for the web development, that's a small part of
> what do professionally.
> > I was not attempting to trivialize the work needed
> to develop a good
> > website.
> >
> > Chris
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf
> Of Jerry Mouton
> > > Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 9:42 AM
> > > To: Bay_Area_Autocross_List
> > > Subject: Re: Preregistration and computerized
> timing/scoring
> > >
> > >
> > > Chris,
> > >
> > > The programs to do the web results were not
> technically
> > > difficult, but they did take about 300 hours of
> my time
> > > to develop over two years. Trivial, no.
> > >
> > > Politics didn't even come into it, I just had a
> better idea
> > > and went out and did it. Nobody complained or
> stood
> > > in the way, because I didn't tell them about it
> until I was
> > > ready to show it. If I did tell them, they
> would have been
> > > continuously bugging me to get it finished
> faster, and to
> > > change it to be like they envisioned it.
> > >
> > > Please, tell us more about this political
> roadblocks that
> > > have stood in your way...
> > >
> > > Jerry
> > >
> > > Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org
> Laissez les bons temps
> > > rouler!
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Chris Warner" <jabrwoky@pacbell.net>
> > > To: "John F. Kelly Jr."
> <76067.1750@compuserve.com>;
> > > "Bay_Area_Autocross_List"
> <ba-autox@autox.team.net>; "Mark J. Andy"
> > > <marka@telerama.com>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 8:41 AM
> > > Subject: RE: Preregistration and computerized
> timing/scoring
> > >
> > >
> > > > The only challenge that prevents us geeks from
> implementing an
> automated
> > > > system is not technical, but political.
> Building the infrastructure,
> > > coding
> > > > the software, and deploying the system live.
> It's so technically easy
> > > it's
> > > > almost trivial. The hard part is getting
> people to accept it
> > > and use it.
> > > I
> > > > am a programmer, not a politician. That's why
> us geeks have failed so
> > > far.
> > > > We don't do politics.
> > > >
> > > > I bet 20 years ago people were saying it would
> be impossible to
> > > report the
> > > > results in 2 days electronically.
> > > >
> > > > Chris
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > > > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of John F. Kelly Jr.
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 8:20 AM
> > > > To: Bay_Area_Autocross_List; Mark J. Andy
> > > > Subject: Re: Preregistration and computerized
> timing/scoring
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -------------------- Begin Original Message
> --------------------
> > > >
> > > > Message text written by "Mark J. Andy"
> > > >
> > > > "Given where you guys run, I find it pretty
> hard to believe that you
> > > > wouldn't have geeks jump all over each other
> for the easy work
> > > assignment
> > > > :-)"
> > > > -------------------- End Original Message
> --------------------
> > > >
> > > > The "geeks" have ALL thrown up their hands.
> That's going back over 10
> > > > years.
> > > >
> > > > Our present "old fashioned" system does one
> important thing. It works.
> > > >
> > > > --John Kelly
Find a job, post your resume.
http://careers.yahoo.com
|