When do the world records stop

Originally posted by newmastersswimmer thus a statement that each touchpad registers (i.e. activates tha electronics within the system) when "almost" the exact same amount of pressure is applied to it from one touch pad to the next ...that's what I am skeptical about....... This is really nothing more than how precise (NOT accurate) two systems can be made. If we assume that current systems are precise WRT each other at the current level of 0.01 seconds, then real real question is what is the feasibility of creating devices that are a full order of magnitude of precision greater than a current level. There are three possibilities: 1) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is greater than that being used and adequate for an order of magnitude improvement but is not being used because the rules do not require it. The cost to build the new device with 10x precision, therefore, is fairly low (probably a new timing chip and display changes). 2) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is greater than that being used and inadequate for an order of magnitude improvement. Cost for this change is high, since it will have to be re-engineered. The hope is that incremental changes will get it to the desired level to keep the cost down. If incremental changes won't work, then you basically end up with case 3. 3) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is maxed out at its current usage level and (obviously) inadequate for an order of magnitude improvement. Cost for this change is extremely high, since it will have to be re-engineered from the ground up. If we can make the devices precise, it is trivial to make them accurate at the 0.001 level since 0.001 timing accuracy is worse than a $5.00 K-Mart watch. I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but in the 2000 Olympics, if there had been 0.001 sec precise timing, who would have won the 50m free? Hall or (forgot his name)? -LBJ

Originally posted by newmastersswimmer thus a statement that each touchpad registers (i.e. activates tha electronics within the system) when "almost" the exact same amount of pressure is applied to it from one touch pad to the next ...that's what I am skeptical about....... This is really nothing more than how precise (NOT accurate) two systems can be made. If we assume that current systems are precise WRT each other at the current level of 0.01 seconds, then real real question is what is the feasibility of creating devices that are a full order of magnitude of precision greater than a current level. There are three possibilities: 1) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is greater than that being used and adequate for an order of magnitude improvement but is not being used because the rules do not require it. The cost to build the new device with 10x precision, therefore, is fairly low (probably a new timing chip and display changes). 2) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is greater than that being used and inadequate for an order of magnitude improvement. Cost for this change is high, since it will have to be re-engineered. The hope is that incremental changes will get it to the desired level to keep the cost down. If incremental changes won't work, then you basically end up with case 3. 3) Given the current technology, the inherent precision is maxed out at its current usage level and (obviously) inadequate for an order of magnitude improvement. Cost for this change is extremely high, since it will have to be re-engineered from the ground up. If we can make the devices precise, it is trivial to make them accurate at the 0.001 level since 0.001 timing accuracy is worse than a $5.00 K-Mart watch. I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but in the 2000 Olympics, if there had been 0.001 sec precise timing, who would have won the 50m free? Hall or (forgot his name)? -LBJ