|
In
those old days, nations were supposed to take annual turns at recording
the results, simply on scratch paper. Sometimes, however, results of a
whole season weren’t recorded at all, because — presumably
due to language-based misunderstandings — one nation thought that
it was the other nations’ turn, which of course ignited frequent
discussions and tumult.
Then Herbert replaced
the old scratch paper system with a filing card system. The new protocol
was to neatly write down results on one card per athlete and discipline.
After the final race of the season, all cards were spread out on a table
and points were calculated via brain power or with the aid of a pocket
calculator. The time consuming calculations were slowed down further by
numerous inquires and unsolicited advice by impatient coaches and team-captains
so that the final awards ceremony took place late at night, after having
spend many hours waiting. How nice those days were.....
In time for the 1989/90
season, shortly after the invasion of our lives by personal computers,
I inherited this labor-intensive job. No more pocket calculators was the
first thought on my mind! But how to automate this process? Initially,
the names and results had to be entered into the computer manually, which
resulted in an apparent increase of the number of racers throughout the
season because typos in a racers’ name resulted in multiple entries
for a single racer. The program was improved continuously, and by 1993
all bugs had been removed.
Todays’ points
computation is fast and efficient. Immediately after the end of the last
race, Urs Dietrich drives to the race location, faxes the results to the
AL-WC computation office in Karlsruhe. As soon as the results arrive,
I run the FISCIT computer program. All of this takes less than
1 hour so that the AL-WC final awards ceremony can be held shortly after
the end of the last race — in daylight. The results are usually
also posted on this website on the same day, sponsored by ratiopharm!
Everything is fast, transparent and up-to-date.
ufr |
