The 'new look' weather forecast.

[George North]

Not really directly related to caving I know - but more important than just idle chatter.

Now I'm not normally the sort of chap to become enraged by the television. BUT! The the new style graphics on the weather forecast are really taking the piss. If you are similarly angry that the BBC has turned the weather into some sort of "entertainment viewing event" then please let them know, and hopefully we can get our isobars back!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

Cheers,

Angry of Durham.

 

[Stu]

It isn't great is it?

 

[dunc]

Crap springs to mind... Bring back the previous style it was far better!!
And I thought the beeb was meant to be a service not a circus..

Noooo, in fact, bring back those good old magnetic weather symbols that didn't stick!

 

[tubby two]

Damn right, i thinks its a right sack of adders. No isobars or fronts, no flat images and i keep getting confused that the blue bits mean all of central scotland has flooded!

I dont live in the far northern isles, but if you did i reckon you'd need binoculars to see your bit on the telly.

rubbish!


tt.


sorry george, you got me started there....

 

[kay]

I like the fact that they show actual areas on the map instead of just symbols. But this new clarity is virtually useless because the skew perspective means it takes ages to find you location on the map and they don't hold the thing still for more than half a second at a time!

 

[BCMCXIV]

Is this the one where the map is angled back to make London seem really big and Scotland seem really small? And all the Scotch Nationalists have been complaining about it?

The BBC will probably just try to fob you off by saying something really patronising like: "Research shows that the average man on the street doesn't want to be bombarded with scientific information like isobars etc. What he wants is fancy graphics and gimmicks to hold his attention." Complete bollocks and just dumbing down for the sake of it.

Incidentally, they started to put a weather forecast on Newsnight, but Jeremy Paxman objected. So when it is his turn to read it out he refuses to do it seriously... it is really funny.

 

[BCMCXIV]

In fact, a bit of searching on the link above reveals this response from the BBC:


Andrew Lane, Manager of the BBC Weather Centre has replied as follows:

"We know it will take a little time for people to get used to the new system, but we feel it will give the extra clarity and detail they have told us they want from our forecasts.

"This is the first major change to the look of BBC weather since 1985 when computer generated maps were introduced.

"We have introduced a new system because our old graphics were criticised as 'staid', 'flat' and 'boring' in the audience research we carried out. Central to the new look, therefore, is a 3D perspective of the UK.

"This change enables us to take viewers on 'tours' of the nations and regions, and to show in clearer detail than before what the weather is doing. Beforehand, we could only show 2D snapshots. Scotland, for instance, is actually no smaller than on the old 2D maps, but with the new 3D forecast, the bottom part of the map (the south) is closer to the viewer.

"Our research also showed that viewers were often confused by the amount of information presented to them. For example many people do not understand pressure charts and feel disenfranchised when they are shown. However, we will continue to use them when they help to tell the weather story.

"We decided to use a plain background for the maps and the colour chosen was the one that enables us to show the weather details over it in greatest clarity. Places are shown by dots, and identified by name, as before. Temperatures are more accurate on the new system and are now consistent with our online sites.

"People are very engaged by the subject of the weather and we have had a range of comments to date. We will continue to monitor the feedback we receive."


Patronising bastards!

 

[Mole]

Never mind the weather forecast,get rid of that giggling bimbo that's on BBC 1 news from 7.30 am,Natasha Kerplunkski.

Talk about "lightweight interviewers".................................

 

[dunc]

I like the fact that they show actual areas on the map instead of just symbols.But this new clarity is virtually useless because the skew perspective means it takes ages to find you location on the map and they don't hold the thing still for more than half a second at a time!

I can't see the point in the moving around bit - I thought national weather was national and then there is regional weather after the regional news if you want details for your area... Or am I being silly? :roll:

but with the new 3D forecast, the bottom part of the map (the south) is closer to the viewer

Yep, typical southerners.. I thought they always claimed they had the best weather so why do they need to see it clearly!?

We have introduced a new system because our old graphics were criticised as 'staid', 'flat' and 'boring' in the audience research we carried out.

I wonder which zoo they visited to conduct their research on a bunch of monkeys?

 

[graham]

Yep, typical southerners.. I thought they always claimed they had the best weather so why do they need to see it clearly!?

Perhaps it's 'cos our weather is nice enough to look at.

 

[cap n chris]

many people do not understand pressure charts and feel disenfranchised when they are shown

Really? Well in that case why don't Ordnance Survey reprint all their maps without contours on so dumb-ass f*ckwits don't feel disenfranchised when they're holding a map the wrong way round?

 

[darkplaces]

I have to aggree, you dont go down to someones level to pull them up. You stand at the top and shout encouragment lobbing books at them and tugging on the rope...

Natasha Kerplunkski... growl, drool.

 

[kay]

Yep, typical southerners.. I thought they always claimed they had the best weather so why do they need to see it clearly!?

They don't have any hills so they have the boring simple easy-to-forecast weather. Maybe that's why the S is the 'closest to the viewer' - it's the bit they get right, and the difficult-to-forecast bits in the north are tucked away out of sight where no one can see them.

 

[tiggs]

Noooo, in fact, bring back those good old magnetic weather symbols that didn't stick!

And Ian McGaskill he was COOL Phwoor

I think they should concentrate on getting the weather right or employing one of them American Indian Types Pisshead was on about last week to perform a raindance/ sunshine dance

 

[Dave H]

If it's not raining take a coat,
If it is, then the choice is yours!

Who needs a weather forcast?

In my office everyone asks me what the weather is going to do and I look out of my window and guess - and I'm at least as accurate as the forcasters!

 

[tiggs]

There is one surefire way of telling what the weathers doing and its cheap and simple (dont you DARE say a bit like me lol) - get a piece of seaweed and hang it outside your window. If it moves its windy, if its wet, its raining, if you cant see it either your windows need washing, you need your eyes testing or its foggy, if its covered in snow....oh you get the picture

DaveH i am from Yorkshire, we go everywhere wearing a coat (it always rains)!!!!

 

[tubby two]

Scotland, for instance, is actually no smaller than on the old 2D maps, but with the new 3D forecast, the bottom part of the map (the south) is closer to the viewer.

Maybe someone should point out to the BBC TV is still only 2-D?

tt.

 

[dunc]

And Ian McGaskill he was COOL Phwoor

Just as we thought you were alright you go and say something like that!!!!

Maybe someone should point out to the BBC TV is still only 2-D

Thank god it is, dread to think what delights they would dream up if it were 3d :?

 

[tubby two]

Maybe C4 could go 3-D though. hollyoaks, desperate housewiv..drool....

tt.

p.s. apologies to any respectable ladies. oh, caving forum. yeah.
p.p.s. hole. digging. sorry again.

 

[kay]

There were isobars on the BBC Look North weather forecast tonight.