Change-request: Alternative compass indication

[maesschp]

Hi,

The 3d-compass in the OSTC (cR in my case) is a welcome addition, but its current "visualization" seriously limits its usefulness.
A traditional compass is mostly used (at least, how I use it) by visually referring to a single memorized heading to quickly determine ones orientation & direction ... the current heading itself is not that important, it's the position of the memorized heading which immediately tells us we're diving straight out, straight in, perpendicular to the shore/ship etc. The screen space which is currently reserved for the numerical compass heading can be used equally well for a (static) mini compass-rose (just a 2 line cross or 4 lines with diagonals). A moving/rotating dot, can then either show the magnetic north or the saved heading relative to the current heading. A picture would say a thousand words here, but as an example, a current heading of 90 would show the magnetic north "dot" in a 270 degree position in the rose. A saved bearing of 90 degrees would show the dot at at 0 degrees.
This approach allows for a very quick orientation, and a very compact representation on the screen ... no need for rotating/moving degrees, no need for a legend etc. The differentiation between the North or Bearing "dot" can be done through colors, or simply by moving an "N" or a "B" character around the rose.
As far as I know no other manufacturer uses this method of representation, and in my opinion this could be a real differentiator.

Best regards

Patrick.

[maesschp]

To illustrate the basic idea ...
The red dot for example represents the magnetic north, the green one the
saved bearing.

[img]https://patrickdm.smugmug.com/photos/i- ... K57K9N.jpg[/img]

[maesschp]

Please feel free to add comments in German, I've watched a lot of "die sendung mit der maus" when I was young

[heinrichsweikamp]

Hello Patrick,

Thanks for your proposal, to be honest there is no such major change planned at the moment. Your proposal requires a re-arrangement of quite a lot of items in divemode and this is something we're not going to do, sorry. Besides that, the update rate for a more graphical compass then the existing one is probably too low to be useful compared the the simple graphics we're using now.

Regards,
Matthias

[maesschp]

Hi Matthias,

Thanks for your reply & feedback.
Just for my info, is this kind of representation (i.e. re-positioning of a colored dot) indeed that more demanding than the moving horizontal compass banner that I
see for example in Forum post
In that approach you lose a large portion of the screen to info you don't really need .. I know that SE is left of S, and SW is on the right What's more difficult to perceive from a banner or numerical heading is that I'm on a slightly off-perpendicular course to a go-home heading I saved before I jumped of a platform (for example). The top-view approach provides that info on a glance. A refresh-rate half of what's achievable on the numerical representation would probably still be ok, no need for fluid movement at all.


Best regards

P.

[maesschp]

Well, never mind, thanks .... was hoping I could leave my old Suunto compass at home with this new purchase, but I guess I'll have to think again now.
Sorry I have to say, promising feature, but disappointing in use.

[Brookes]

I guess there are different opinions regarding the compass design. For me it was the main reason I purchased the OSTC.

Your proposal is also a nice one, but to be honest I guess I would prefer the actual layout or a half compass rose (which takes to much space in the screen).

[maesschp]

Hi,

thanks for your feedback .. well indeed, it probably boils down on how you're used to use a compass. The current layout is perfectly fine if you're used to set your compass for a swim-out course, find an object/mark etc.
In practice I seldom use a compass in that sense as it, for me at least, provides little visual clues during the course of the dive ... I just look at the top-view position of the reciprocal of the heading I started-out, and I know my orientation relative to it at a glance. That works for me, but honestly, I don't know how many people use the same approach.

Best regards

P.

[algo]

Although Matthias made his statement, I really like the layout or principle idea behind the suggestion....

[Brookes]

Yes, me too. I definitely would give it a try. For fun dives or dives without a defined target I guess it's a nice approach.

[sharpw]

Well since people are chipping in with opinions, I don't like it... The compass works fine the way it is for me and mimics a 'real' compass well enough.

Another opinion in the bucket