[FRC Blog] Audience Displays and a Favor

[Conor Ryan]

Originally Posted by Libby K

Here's another observation, and this might just be me.



As I'm watching the Palmetto webcast, I'm inclined to read the blue bars (and the blue tower #) as "This is what the blue alliance has accomplished so far", since it's on the same side of the screen as the blue team numbers.

However, now that I've watched matches for a bit, I understand that the blue bars mean "strength of blue Outer Works, as done by the red alliance" - same with the tower.

Did anyone else get the same confusion at first, or am I just really bad at reading the display?

I super agree, rather than filling in with white, filling in with the other Alliance's color might make it more intuitive.

However, the new Audience Display is makes watching Webcasts much easier! I kind of wish there was a flash to get my attention when something subtle changed, but hey I like it.

[sdangelo]

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan

I super agree, rather than filling in with white, filling in with the other Alliance's color might make it more intuitive.

Good idea, I second.

[Kristian Calhoun]

Originally Posted by sdangelo

Good idea, I second.

Filling in with the opposing alliance's color has the potential to be even more confusing when the bars are half red/half blue. Or if all the defenses have been damaged, it could be misinterpreted as all of them at full health. I like how the white is a clear indicator of which defenses have been weakened/damage. My only critique would be for the white to fill in from the right side of the bar for the red alliance (to better align with arcade fighter/video game health bar conventions).

After watching a few matches, understanding the display is pretty intuitive. Good job, FIRST!

[MasterMentor]

Originally Posted by Kristian Calhoun

My only critique would be for the white to fill in from the right side of the bar for the red alliance (to better align with arcade fighter/video game health bar conventions).

Looks like they fixed that - the red and blue now fill opposite from each other. Either you've got ESP or someone must be listening!

This layout seems to me more appropriate for offseasons where you might not have the defense lights - you can look up and see the state of the field, you don't have to derive the state of each defense because it's clearly shown. Sure, it's a bit confusing because the robots primarily spend their time on the opposite side of the field as the drivers (and you get points for doing stuff on the opposite side of the field).

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

-G

[sanddrag]

After seeing (or not seeing, rather) this screen for the first time, I have to say, I wasn't able to see it. A lot of space is wasted on the blocks and trees, and the text is far too small. They need to ditxh the theme and full screen the important stuff. The blue being a darker shade would help too.