If Jerry's website was the first step, what do we need to do to improve on
Jerry's site? The first I would look is how we do the data aquisition.
Automate this part, and we will have made vast improvements to how we run
events.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of craig boyle
> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 10:53 AM
> To: Jerry Mouton; Bay_Area_Autocross_List
> Subject: Re: Preregistration and computerized timing/scoring
>
>
> 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
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