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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!drutx!review
From: review@drutx.UUCP (Millham)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Digital Dash
Message-ID: <2563@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 14:39:18 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.2563
Posted: Mon Apr 22 14:39:18 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Apr-85 06:33:06 EST
References: <622@ssc-vax.UUCP> <81@cadtec.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 35

> 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.

Chrysler electronic dashboards only display the speed of the car as
digits. The rest of the gauges (including the tack) are "bar graph" type
displays. I find that this dash is easier to read than an analog
gauges. It's nice to glance down and see that I'm doing 82 MPH
(opps, I mean 54). As to sudden changing speeds, I don't need a
needle moving around to tell me if I'm speeding up or slowing down.
I would, however, like to see along with the "analog" tack a digital
tack also.

--------------------------------------------

Brian Millham
AT & T Information Systems
Denver, Co.

...!inhp4!drutx!review

How fast was I going?
93.
Really! My speedometer only read 92.