Timing Technology Behind Olympic Record Results 118
An anonymous reader writes "We've been on the edge of our seats cheering on the athletes at the Beijing Olympic games — but so often do athletes' victories and defeats rely on accurate timing. As the athletes compete on the world stage behind the scenes technology records their results. This interview with Omega's Christophe Berthaud (video) — the company's 23rd time as official Olympic timekeeper — explores how far the technology has come since the first time it was used in 1932."
Not accurate. Consistent. (Score:5, Insightful)
Winning Olympic events that involve fastest finish have nothing to do with accurate timing. Getting a world record might but everything about getting a medal is relative to your performance against your peers. Consistency is all that matters. And given that most of these events are run in qualifying heats, consistency between separate races is often not a factor. Even in race Phelps won by 0.01 seconds, the photo finish was just as telling as the actual clock results.
Re:Speak for yourself (Score:1, Insightful)
I don't consider spending a few dozen hours every couple of years watching the best athletes try and put on their best performance to be pathetic. I think it's probably more pathetic that I spend time on slashdot reading crap like what you just posted.
Re:Speak for yourself (Score:3, Insightful)
No, the world I live in is so plagued with asshole politicians, evil corporations, a sinking morass of a war, and numerous other cancers on the national soul, so that having a national hero I can stand up and cheer for is the only thing that can come close to healing the rift between me and my government. I've never liked the idea of patriotism very much, but that doesn't mean I don't want it.
Re:Not accurate. Consistent. (Score:5, Insightful)
given that most of these events are run in qualifying heats, consistency between separate races is often not a factor.
I disagree. Frequently the final is comprised of the three fastest from semifinal A, the three fastest from semifinal B, and then the two fastest remaining competitors from either race. Consistency between races is extremely important to these people.
Re:Why the difference? (Score:5, Insightful)
It may have to do with regulations for individual sports. Each individual sport has its own set of rules and committees. Is has been made obvious this week, gymnastics doesn't allow ties, but I believe swimming does (IIRC, during the first few days we had a tie for bronze). If 1/100 second is the accepted resolution for swimming and any smaller interval is considered a tie, there doesn't serve much purpose in taking more photos. Each photo would be precisely timed to take place exactly as the clock ticked over. Anything more might be useful for a pissing contest, but by the regulations is unnecessary, and perhaps even undesirable (as the media might try to push one as being the true winner, rather than just accept the tie and giving both their due).