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From: rick@cadtec.UUCP (Rick Auricchio)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Digital Dash
Message-ID: <81@cadtec.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Apr-85 12:34:22 EST
Article-I.D.: cadtec.81
Posted: Wed Apr 17 12:34:22 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 06:17:32 EST
References: <622@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Reply-To: rick@cadtec.UUCP (Rick Auricchio)
Distribution: net
Organization: Cadtec Corp., San Jose CA
Lines: 32

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[]
>In article <622@ssc-vax.UUCP> jayt@ssc-vax.UUCP (Jay T McCanta) writes:
>
>I am looking for at a new car and have the option of either a conventinal
>dash or a digital dash.  When I was driving the digital demo, I felt that
>I had to read the dash whereas with the conventional dash I could just
>look at the dash and gather the info.  

I agree that the "analog" instruments provide quickly-assimilated information,
along with trend info.  Digital instruments are fine for accurate details, but
do you really care that the oil pressure is 47 psi, or just that it's in the
green (normal) range?

I also fly my own plane and would have trouble (probably end up dead) if I had
to figure out the "trend" on a digital airspeed or altimeter.  The needle's
motion is instantly apparent, while it would be difficult to determine the
direction of change of a bunch of digits.  Likewise for engine temps, fuel
pressure, etc.

The only useful digital readouts for aircraft (in my opinion) are fuel flow,
outside air temp, radio tuning, *ground*speed (you don't fly the plane by
groundspeed, but you use it to check winds etc.), distance-to-station.

The Boeing 767 has analog representations of engine gauges on the video
display, along with a digital presentation of the exact number.  You can see
at a glance what's happening, or home-in on the exact values.  Not unlike the
"graphic" tach displays in some cars.
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