SSA sailplane tracker - too complex

On Monday, July 25, 2016 at 12:49:13 AM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
I must wonder if the folks who complain actually spent the time to read instructions and learn how to use this service.

This is the point: if it takes an hour to figure out how to use it, then it's basically designed for time wasting technophiles sitting at computers. That's fine. But there are many other potential users, e.g. the spouse, kid, crew or student at the gliderport. Most of those would be users aren't going to be motivated enough to "spend an hour" climbing the learning curve and more than likely the device available is going to be a phone, not a full on computer.

I'd like to integrate something sort of like this tracker into my club. We have a bunch of guys who routinely fly crewless XC and eventually, one of us is going to park somewhere awkward and find communication really difficult.

Right now, the probability of the glideport aero tracker providing any assistance in that scenario is z e r o, because no one uses it, because it's too damned fussy and complicated. That's not a complaint, that's a review.

best,
Evan Ludeman / T8

On Monday, July 25, 2016 at 5:38:35 AM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
On Monday, July 25, 2016 at 12:49:13 AM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
I must wonder if the folks who complain actually spent the time to read instructions and learn how to use this service.

This is the point: if it takes an hour to figure out how to use it, then it's basically designed for time wasting technophiles sitting at computers. That's fine. But there are many other potential users, e.g. the spouse, kid, crew or student at the gliderport. Most of those would be users aren't going to be motivated enough to "spend an hour" climbing the learning curve and more than likely the device available is going to be a phone, not a full on computer.

I'd like to integrate something sort of like this tracker into my club. We have a bunch of guys who routinely fly crewless XC and eventually, one of us is going to park somewhere awkward and find communication really difficult.

Right now, the probability of the glideport aero tracker providing any assistance in that scenario is z e r o, because no one uses it, because it's too damned fussy and complicated. That's not a complaint, that's a review.

best,
Evan Ludeman / T8

Well, at the 2016 Nationals in Nephi, the developer of Gliderport.Aero, Pedja Bogdanovich, not only gave us a development talk, but I spoke with him over several days(we were gridded right next to each other). The number of pure hits (folks using his site) he sees are very large in numbers and they are from all over the World. When a contest is being held the number of hits rises rapidly. He also sees many, mnay repeated hits.
He also spoke on the development of a small tracker which will be carried giving instance altitude and position. The cost was in the range of mid $200 dollars. Most folks attended(+75 folks) his talk and when asked almost all raised their hand when asked if they would purchase such a tracker for use..
Maybe best to remember he's developing this site for free, its better than we have ever had and as time passes it will offer more features. But only he is doing it, its his passion, it takes time.
Everyone, including the SSA chair, KM, were very pleased with its development. He got a standing ovation for his many, many hours of free work he has put into it.
IMHO, I really don't see anyone needing a hour or so in how to use this site. After Pedja's talk my thoughts are he would be open to hear useful comments.

Best. #711.