Battery and volume indicators are the bane of my existence – they never work as expected! Sure, there are complicated issues at work such as logarithmic scales and perception, but those excuses doesn’t ease my headache. [Reddit via Geekosystem]
agree 100%. The worst crime ever in level indication is the fuel gauge in my commodore. That thing flat out lies. Goes from 100km to empty to 0 in a matter of 1-2 kms. Granted the car is 10yrs old this year, but really… how hard is this to get right. Bit off topic I know.
I totally agree with you for the volume graph, however trying to make a battery display that works the way you have described is a little more complicated than you think. newer tech batteries are able to keep the voltage up for as high as it can for much longer periods of time. once they reach a point they start to die quickly, this is the nature of high tech batteries. LIon, Lipo, A123 batteries (and even NiMH batteries to some extent) all exhibit this kind of behavior which is what you want. however it is up to the person operating the device to get to know the run times between recharges (you shouldn’t rely 100% on the gauges on the device).
A quick thought is why don’t the phone makers etc who know what the rough amount of power the battery can provide use that as part of their meter? I’m sure they can determine how much power the device is using at any time.
glennc
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:06 PMwhy not… everything else in this industry is a lie
KRS1
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:27 PMagree 100%. The worst crime ever in level indication is the fuel gauge in my commodore. That thing flat out lies. Goes from 100km to empty to 0 in a matter of 1-2 kms. Granted the car is 10yrs old this year, but really… how hard is this to get right. Bit off topic I know.
Kalem
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:29 PMAnyone who has ever streamed porn should know this conundrum.
Nathan Millson
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 3:34 PMconfessed.
taelan
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 7:13 PMlol… I agree :)
Martin
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:36 PMI totally agree with you for the volume graph, however trying to make a battery display that works the way you have described is a little more complicated than you think. newer tech batteries are able to keep the voltage up for as high as it can for much longer periods of time. once they reach a point they start to die quickly, this is the nature of high tech batteries. LIon, Lipo, A123 batteries (and even NiMH batteries to some extent) all exhibit this kind of behavior which is what you want. however it is up to the person operating the device to get to know the run times between recharges (you shouldn’t rely 100% on the gauges on the device).
Ben
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 7:39 AMSound is a logarithmic curve anyway. Is that graph for sound output in dB or mW?
Roland
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:37 PMMight as well add fuel gauge in the car as well… that never seems right too :-P
Nevertheless I feel ur pain though…
Nick
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 5:27 PMA quick thought is why don’t the phone makers etc who know what the rough amount of power the battery can provide use that as part of their meter? I’m sure they can determine how much power the device is using at any time.
matt
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 9:49 PMthe problem with volume ones is… some times it can never be loud enough.