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Thread: [Acro] Re: Contest Scoring Program
Message: [Acro] Re: Contest Scoring Program
Follow-Up To: ACRO Email list (for List Members only)
From: Steve Pennypacker <spenny at bellatlantic.net>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 15:25:18 UTC
Thanks, Dick. I guess I'll chime in now. I've been in software all my life, and have also run a few contests. So in some sense, I think I understand the intellectual property concerns, and certainly the lack of recognition for large volunteer efforts. Those are very real. I, for one, do appreciate the huge time investments that have been made in the current software. Thank you to all who have been involved. Though we did find a major bug in it a few years back, overall the software has been quite stable and does what it's intended to do. The other side of the argument is that it's a bit limited. The user interface sorely needs to be brought up to date. I understand Rudy is nearing completion on that now, so it should soon no longer be the burning issue it has been. But the bigger issue, to me, is not score calculation. It's that running a contest involves an enormous amount of repetitive, mechanical paperwork that could/should be automated. The burning need is now for one end to end system that automates and integrates all of the administrative stuff. Why? 1- Faster paperwork processing at a contest results in more flying and less downtime. 2- Lower workload for the registrar means it's easier to find registrars and scorers. 3- Automation means fewer human errors. Again more flying time, and also happier people. The nice thing is that it can all be done without any changes to the current scoring system, because most or all of the data files are currently stored in text format so are easy to understand and hook into. I suspect that if his ownership rights weren't being threatened, Rudy might even help out with the interfaces to the current program. How many contests out there have trouble finding and retaining good registrars and scorers? How many have had the flying interrupted, for even a few minutes, because the paperwork wasn't ready? Close to 100% I bet. A preregistration system like Guenther's (http://acro.aerobaticsweb.org/p re_reg_contest.html) should feed pilot information directly into the scoring program. That can then develop and print out a randomized (fair) Order of Flight for each category. Could also effectively and quickly space multiple pilots flying the same airplane and preventing people from flying first/last if they're a key volunteer in the previous/next category to fly. The scores in Form A (the judge's score sheet) could be a scannable form like a standardized test. Faster and more accurate than the current system. All that stuff is now done manually and is time consuming and error prone. Hangar signups, judges certification forms, grass roots, achievement awards, boundary judge forms, parts of the registrar's checklist, and probably all of the other myriad of forms can all be automated. It can help the volunteer coordinator more quickly & easily figure out how to assign volunteers, and fill out the volunteer logs for him/her. I challenge someone to come up with a system that can really make a difference, rather than reinventing a complex wheel. Steve On Thursday, May 23, 2002 8:53 AM, RIHNAIRCO at aol.com [SMTP:RIHNAIRCO at aol.com] wrote: > Perhaps some history would leaven this conversation. > > This program (TBLP) has been created and modified over the years at virtually > no cost to IAC. Very early on we attempted to hire someone to program the > software to accomplish our goals. That didn't work. Our then President, > Mike Heuer spent countless hours attempting to do the same thing to assist in > making the costs within reach. The recently deceased Sheldon Klotz also > spent many hours creating a program for IAC, again at no cost to IAC. > > Dr. Tarasof, a Russian aeronautical engineer, produced the first of the > number crunching systems at no cost to IAC. Can you imagine the guts it took > for a russian space scientest to create a program that would thwart the > flagrant juding bias rampant in the USSR at world contests? Remember the > cold war? > > Dr. Bauer, a German mathematician, then improved the program, at no cost to > IAC. > > Dr. Long, a US mathmetician, then added another round of modifications, at no > cost to IAC. > > Rudy Penteado, a Brazilian computer programmer and aerobatic competitor, then > made the current version. He has spent many long sessions improving the > program. He does not receive payment for his efforts from IAC. However, the > product does have value as intellectual property. He therefore retains that > value by offering the program to some countrys for modest cost and to IAC at > no cost. > > If someone were to reinvent the wheel by developing something better AND > give it to IAC I can imagine that it would be received and used. However, I > don't expect a long line of volunteers to scramble for that opportunity > considering the magnitude of the task and the lack of appreciation for the > efforts of those who have given so generously of their time and talents. > > The forgoing is a summary of my recollections. There may be errors in some > minor details. Mike Heuer is probably the only person that has the complete > story. In summary, IAC is a group of volunteers who provide saleable talents > to IAC at no charge. However, they reserve the right to sell such saleable > items to others at market price. > > Dick Rihn, Past Pres. IAC > << File: ATT00006.html >>