New Digital CIS at Saltcoats

[route:oxford]

Gosh, I'd love to see some analogue IT

Well, I've got one of these on my desk.

Whilst I engage with it digitally (8 fingers and thumb) - I'm quite confident that it's an analogue inteface.

 

[Ze Random One]

Actually, the ps/2 keyboard is a very demonstrably digital interface. Each button is either depressed or not (on or off) and furthermore that is encoded as a bit stream of 1s and 0s which is sent across the wire to the computer, which can directly interpret the signal as a series of bytes. Some games controllers are analogue, meaning that it matters how hard you push the control to get different responses. A keyboard however, you either pressed the button or you didn't.

Plenty of analogue 'computers' exist (they are actually more like specialist calculators, since they tend not to have a stored program, and need to be rewired for any new purpose). The Science Museum in London has many examples.
We digress...

 

[F Great Eastern]

To be honest it's only going to be a matter of time before someone uses these screens for something other than train information such as advertising.

There's nothing wrong with the Orange Infotec screens if you ask me, and they fit much more, clearer information on them as well. If you have a service with lots of stops on those screens it's going to be several pages long.

It also has no room for information, such as onboard services or train length that the infotec screens does and apparently does not support scrolling messages, already that is major failings.

LCD Screens are not as reliable as their LED counterparts either.

 

[nidave]

Well, I've got one of these on my desk.

Whilst I engage with it digitally (8 fingers and thumb) - I'm quite confident that it's an analogue inteface.

One of the nicest keyboards I have ever used. Very loud but very satisfying.

 

[LLivery]

Ever since I've seen similar to these in Sydney I often wondered why they weren't here. Much better than what we have everywhere else. Sydney are just in the process of updating the layout to a white background, looks very smart.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ever since I've seen similar to these in Sydney I often wondered why they weren't here.

Because they're a newer technology than when we decided on the standard. At the time the orange LED screens were selected, the only other option was plasma, which suffered terrible burn-in - anyone remember just how bad it was in Paddington and Waterloo?

 

[Starmill]

Because they're a newer technology than when we decided on the standard. At the time the orange LED screens were selected, the only other option was plasma, which suffered terrible burn-in - anyone remember just how bad it was in Paddington and Waterloo?

They still have that at Manchester Airport (for train departures).

 

[mbreckers]

They still have that at Manchester Airport (for train departures).

They still have the same at Prestwick Airport, they cant keep the station lights in working order but the CIS is still soldiering on (The airport owners that is, not Abellio/NR)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Another article regarding the new CIS, which apparent is called iPoint and will be rolled out at "key stations"

Apparently this new iPoint system can accomodate the CIS (called DCIS because everything needs to have digital in the name), CCTV, lighting and two way communications.

http://masstransit.network/mass-transit-news/abellio/scotrail-introduces-new-customer-information-screens?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

ScotRail is introducing the new DCIS (Digital Customer Information Screens) from Blackbox Company to a number of key stations. Designed to keep passengers better informed with its "information at a glance" solution, DCIS provides real-time, full-colour, animated service updates and disruption information via the cloud to High Definition (HD) displays, developed in partnership with Samsung Electronics. DCIS is the result of Abellio Group's innovation partnership with Blackbox and will deliver more information and richer content to passengers.

This project also sees the first install of Abellio Group's iPoint. Developed by Abellio, Blackbox and leading rail industry design house TDC, iPoint's modular system accommodates DCIS, CCTV, two-way communications and lighting and is designed as a single point of focus for on-platform customer information and security.

Jeremy Whitaker, Head of Commercial Development at Abellio Group said, "DCIS and iPoint are a giant step ahead of anything else on the network and allow us to deliver a new generation of on-platform services to customers more cost effectively and to much higher design standards."

 

[mbreckers]

One of these CIS's has been installed outside the ticket office at Motherwell

 

[northwichcat]

Gosh, I'd love to see some analogue IT

Is this OK?

Not sure how you use it to get the train times!

 

[jon0844]

One of these CIS's has been installed outside the ticket office at Motherwell

Is the right hand bit animated? I am not sure why it switches from the 'simple' coloured bars to a text explanation next to the colours.

Seeing the first photo, I think it's quite clear that orange means a delay. Red I'd take as cancelled, but green for on time - instead of yellow? But, clever as it is, surely you have the 'On time', 'Delayed' bit on constantly?

 

[mbreckers]

Is the right hand bit animated? I am not sure why it switches from the 'simple' coloured bars to a text explanation next to the colours.

Seeing the first photo, I think it's quite clear that orange means a delay. Red I'd take as cancelled, but green for on time - instead of yellow? But, clever as it is, surely you have the 'On time', 'Delayed' bit on constantly?

I agree green would be better for on time, yellow for a delay and red for cancelled.

Its an animation so each service slides onto the screen one after the other with the colour bar and then the on time/delayed pops out once all the services are on screen.

Unfortunately I dont know who to direct suggestions about it to, think I will try ScotRail's twitter, hopefully they know about it

 

[jon0844]

Its an animation so each service slides onto the screen one after the other with the colour bar and then the on time/delayed pops out once all the services are on screen.

Unfortunately I dont know who to direct suggestions about it to, think I will try ScotRail's twitter, hopefully they know about it

Urgh. What a waste of time (literally) making people wait to see later services by introducing animations.

By all means have some nice fade or transition from page to page, but sliding text in? That's like some awful PowerPoint presentation!

 

[LLivery]

Anyone seen the new screens at St Pancras Thameslink Platform B? I was on Platform A today and I could see two sets of screens with black backgrounds but couldn't quite read them.

 

[mbreckers]

Urgh. What a waste of time (literally) making people wait to see later services by introducing animations.

By all means have some nice fade or transition from page to page, but sliding text in? That's like some awful PowerPoint presentation!

It's like a fade and a slide in from the right side of the screen, but it's quick and smooth at least.

It can get kind of confusing because four platforms at Motherwell, two used by many different services (ScotRail services to/from Lanark, Edinburgh, Anderston, Glasgow via Bellshill, via Hamilton; CrossCountry services and Virgin Trains WC services)

Hopefully they install them down on the platform soon and we can see how the platform screens hold at a busier station than Saltcoats.

(And I dont quite understand why they have dedicated a whole screen to a CCTV image of yourself, user that for more information)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Urgh. What a waste of time (literally) making people wait to see later services by introducing animations.

By all means have some nice fade or transition from page to page, but sliding text in? That's like some awful PowerPoint presentation!

Managed to grab a quick video of the CIS

https://youtu.be/yvqcP7sVND8

 

[jon0844]

Thanks for that.

It does seem unnecessary for showing information you want quickly IMO.

Fine for advertising and perhaps for showing other information, that isn't so time critical.

 

[mbreckers]

An iPoint CIS has now also been installed at the Argyle Street entrance at Argyle Street station