Glider EFIS anyone?

Maybe instrument design has changed, but I recall the counter, drum, pointer
altimeter needing a vibrator (read battery consumption) to keep the pointer
and digits from sticking. Or you could continuously tap the panel to keep
it moving...

"Bill D" wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 5:15:40 PM UTC-7, Craig R. wrote:
If I remember correctly, studies were done on the ability of the brain to
interpret and understand data quickly using either an analog or digital
readout. Time and speedometer readouts were the main emphasis of the
study. The study showed that the brain interprets the analog display
quicker and with greater accuracy. Besides the issue of running out of
power, it appears that the analog display is superior to digital for
information gathering and execution. Something to consider in going to an
all glass panel. Perhaps someone that is up on this subject could
elaborate?

That study was done very early in the digital age - 1960's IIRC. Current
studies show that while it remains easier to detect a trend with an analog
needle, a discrete value is easier to read in digits. Few would use an
altimeter to detect a trend so it works best as a numeric display which is
why few high performance aircraft use 3-hand altimeters anymore - in fact
they're pretty much relegated to gliders which means they're probably going
to disappear. Not many "little old Swiss watchmakers" left to fix them these
days.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 10:31:14 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
Maybe instrument design has changed, but I recall the counter, drum, pointer

altimeter needing a vibrator (read battery consumption) to keep the pointer

and digits from sticking. Or you could continuously tap the panel to keep

it moving...



"Bill D" wrote in message

...

On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 5:15:40 PM UTC-7, Craig R. wrote:

If I remember correctly, studies were done on the ability of the brain to

interpret and understand data quickly using either an analog or digital

readout. Time and speedometer readouts were the main emphasis of the

study. The study showed that the brain interprets the analog display

quicker and with greater accuracy. Besides the issue of running out of

power, it appears that the analog display is superior to digital for

information gathering and execution. Something to consider in going to an

all glass panel. Perhaps someone that is up on this subject could

elaborate?



That study was done very early in the digital age - 1960's IIRC. Current

studies show that while it remains easier to detect a trend with an analog

needle, a discrete value is easier to read in digits. Few would use an

altimeter to detect a trend so it works best as a numeric display which is

why few high performance aircraft use 3-hand altimeters anymore - in fact

they're pretty much relegated to gliders which means they're probably going

to disappear. Not many "little old Swiss watchmakers" left to fix them these

days.

Mine worked just fine without a vibrator.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 12:17:21 PM UTC-6, Bill D wrote:
On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 10:31:14 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:

Maybe instrument design has changed, but I recall the counter, drum, pointer



altimeter needing a vibrator (read battery consumption) to keep the pointer



and digits from sticking. Or you could continuously tap the panel to keep



it moving...







"Bill D" wrote in message



...



On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 5:15:40 PM UTC-7, Craig R. wrote:



If I remember correctly, studies were done on the ability of the brain to



interpret and understand data quickly using either an analog or digital



readout. Time and speedometer readouts were the main emphasis of the



study. The study showed that the brain interprets the analog display



quicker and with greater accuracy. Besides the issue of running out of



power, it appears that the analog display is superior to digital for



information gathering and execution. Something to consider in going to an



all glass panel. Perhaps someone that is up on this subject could



elaborate?







That study was done very early in the digital age - 1960's IIRC. Current



studies show that while it remains easier to detect a trend with an analog



needle, a discrete value is easier to read in digits. Few would use an



altimeter to detect a trend so it works best as a numeric display which is



why few high performance aircraft use 3-hand altimeters anymore - in fact



they're pretty much relegated to gliders which means they're probably going



to disappear. Not many "little old Swiss watchmakers" left to fix them these



days.



Mine worked just fine without a vibrator.

Here is a glass panel (EFIS) made by Dittel Avionik
http://www.dittel-avionik.de/files/gca/GCA_Mounting.pdf

That's what I was looking for when asking the original question. It seems to have not really set the world afire, so far. Plus, radio and transponder are not yet integrated. Flarm can be connected, however. They seem to be able to load a number of open-source software packages. Altitude and airspeed are indicated in boxes right below the map.
Herb