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On Tue, 4 Oct 1994 rnf@sp*.tb*.co* wrote: > >I think the real issue is the graphical display. In my experience, a > >diver is much more easily scared by a needle pointing way down in the RED > >that I witnessed using air-integrated computers. [much analog v. digital stuff snipped] > I disagree, the divers caused the out of air situations through poor planning, > training or whatever reason. The computer can't "cause" you to run out of air > unless it malfunctions. Displays can contribute to the cause of an 'event'. In the 1960's a BOAC VC-10 flew into the ground whilst attempting a night landing in the Far East. The altimeter setting, in the digital Klosiman <sp> window was misread by both of the flight crew. Seems they both transposed some digits and followed their analog displays right into the ground. These were not 'weekend-warriors', rather they were a first rate professionals working for Great Britian's flag carrier. I have been a victim of failures of both digital and analog displays of tank pressure. The one time an analog gauge failed, I was at 87 feet and had NO air. Thankfully I had NO decompression obligation (I planned it that way, thank you very much!) and did the ol' "blow and go". I have done about half of my cave/deep/mix dives with digital pressure displays and have found myself going EXACTALLY TO my "air-cutoff-rule" (2/3s,1/2 +500, 1/2, 1/3...whatever was decided before the dive). ie: it the "cutoff" was to be 2250psi, I'll go to exactally 2250 (or 2249)psi before turning the dive. When using analog displays, I will turn the dive when the neddle is "close" to the "cutoff" point rather than try to interprolate<sp> that point on what is a low-resolution, poorly calibrated gauge. Here is where I wrap it all up with a clever analogy (no pun intended): Modern cars have digital fuel gauges that also display "miles remaining". Many people feel comfortable driving around with "43.4 Miles Remaining" indicated on their fuel display. If the amount of fuel left was displayed by an analog gauge that showed 3/16ths of a tank, they would think "I'm almost out of gas, I have to stop driving and refuel!" The needle has wandered down to the below 1/4th mark and it looks real close to empty. dan@sh*.ne* mig@shadow.net Murphy's laws of combat #38: "Tracers work both ways."
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