d16842 0 #1 January 11, 2003 Are there any programs for PDA's/Palm Pilots to use for designing and organizing RW dives? It would be really handy to have one showing the jump's formations, and even the transitions between points. You could put a hell of a lot of formations in a PDA, and make designing skydives a lot easier. Even a low cost PDA could hold hundreds of them, organized in folders based on the number of jumpers. Got 5 people? Just open the 5 person folder and scan them. I realize there are already hard-copy dive planners, but they don't let you choose and arrange the formations in your dive's order. A color PDA would allow each jumper to easily see his position and movements. You could even take it onboard the aircraft and review the dive on the way up. BTW, this is the kind of thing that USPA could/should do, and then release the programs to the membership for our use. With 30,000 or so members, there should be funding available to do so, and it would be the kind of activity that would demonstrate USPA's support of skydiver needs, not just those of group members. USPA has developed software and web applications specifically for group members. It is reasonable to expect them to do similar efforts for mainstream members. Tom B Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #2 January 11, 2003 so you want your dues money to go to developing a flash animation package to download to your PDA? wow. That would be a pretty big task. Ask Craig Buxton how many hours he has in the 4way CD... and that doesn't even link the formations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d16842 0 #3 January 11, 2003 Quoteso you want your dues money to go to developing a flash animation package to download to your PDA? wow. . Well it seems to make more sense than using my dues money to prop up the Group Member program. How much went to creating the database and software so DZO's can go on the web and determine if I am a member. Oh wait, that increases membership and dues, and makes things convenient for DZO's. Sorry, I should have known better than to make that comparison. My bad. While the animation would be nice, I would happily settle for just having the formations and the ability to place them in the proper order of the dive. Seriously, how much of our money is lost due to blown dives that people didn't fully understand, or remember? When the development cost is spread over the broad membership, and the benefits are made freely available to the membership, it seems to me to be an activity with payoff. Tom Birdwell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #4 January 11, 2003 Seriously, have you checked the palm pilot software sites? They have sites that have every concievable program to track the most mundane crap up to really complex applications. If one doesn't already exist I bet you could contact some of the geeks that do that and get some input on it's feasibility. It's my understanding that most of those programs are written by average joes"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #5 January 11, 2003 QuoteSeriously, how much of our money is lost due to blown dives that people didn't fully understand, or remember? When the development cost is spread over the broad membership, and the benefits are made freely available to the membership, it seems to me to be an activity with payoff. so everyone with a PDA would remember the skydive? that is up to each person and the organizer to make sure everyone has it. I wouldn't want my dues going to have someone sit and write code for various dives. By the way, it has been done for big ways and in color (print outs), but how the heck would you find yourself ona PDA screen for anything much bigger than a 6 way anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d16842 0 #6 January 11, 2003 Quote***I wouldn't want my dues going to have someone sit and write code for various dives. I seriously doubt that even 10% of our membership would ever visit a skydiving museum. None of our membership has access to the database of members. Our organization does things all the time for subsets of the membership, on things that other members don't want their money spent on. I don't know if this has enough support to justify it. But simply having some members that don't like it is not sufficient reason to blackball the project. Tom BTom B Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #7 January 11, 2003 Let's settle for the face-to-face dirt dive, unless you're trying to have an FS4 type thing for meet dives or something. HarryI don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #8 January 12, 2003 This http://www.vorpalware.com/paralog.htm is supposed to have a planning module but it's not out yet.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #9 January 12, 2003 QuoteBTW, this is the kind of thing that USPA could/should do, and then release the programs to the membership for our use. No, it isn't. This might be the kind of thing that the NSL should do. The USPA should do what is founded to do and that is to keep skydivers skydiving. QuoteBut simply having some members that don't like it is not sufficient reason to blackball the project. OK, explain to me how an RW program for the PP keeps skydivers skydiving? Just because the USPA might have lost their way in some aspects isn't a license to lose their way in others. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #10 January 12, 2003 Quote How much went to creating the database and software so DZO's can go on the web and determine if I am a member. Oh wait, that increases membership and dues, and makes things convenient for DZO's. It also makes things convenient for you. Because of that online database I don't have to worry too much about forgetting my USPA membership card when visiting a new DZ. A new DZ can look up my info immediatly if I forget my card, I think that's a Good Thing. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
no7rosman 0 #11 January 12, 2003 It is not the USPA's responsibility to develop third party software and give it to members for free. Software development is very expensive. I am not a fan of the USPA and all their freaken fees and dues either, but nobody should expect them to develop software for free. Buy a book you would be suprised how fast you could learn to do it yourself on your home pc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
