19th October 2013, 08:39 PM
Hi Kevin!
I understand the risks of mixing strat & physical, although frankly there are too many folk out there that can't tell 'em apart anyway, and put all manner of rubbish in even if they only get boxes for strat. (And I'm firmly of the belief that anything from Planet Zog clever enough to conquer space travel and learn our language would be bright enough to dust off a copy of the recording manual...)
I'm not so sure though that "paper vs digital" is really a battle to be won, given that both have uses and weaknesses tthat almost make 'em mutually exclusive depending on site infrastructure, resources, time pressure etc. And from what I remember of our foray into Intrasis, even the Swedes admitted that for urban stuff they filled out modified DUA-style paper forms in the trench and typed it into the database afterwards! Unless we develop Star Trek tricorders I can't see the "born digital" revolution taking over the muddy trenches anytime soon. Especially when paper & pencils are so cheap, and good old permatrace even works in the rain.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for hi-tech. I love a good database, and am well-versed in plotting features by TST and/or GPS. I just don't see it as a case of one or the other, but not both.
I understand the risks of mixing strat & physical, although frankly there are too many folk out there that can't tell 'em apart anyway, and put all manner of rubbish in even if they only get boxes for strat. (And I'm firmly of the belief that anything from Planet Zog clever enough to conquer space travel and learn our language would be bright enough to dust off a copy of the recording manual...)
I'm not so sure though that "paper vs digital" is really a battle to be won, given that both have uses and weaknesses tthat almost make 'em mutually exclusive depending on site infrastructure, resources, time pressure etc. And from what I remember of our foray into Intrasis, even the Swedes admitted that for urban stuff they filled out modified DUA-style paper forms in the trench and typed it into the database afterwards! Unless we develop Star Trek tricorders I can't see the "born digital" revolution taking over the muddy trenches anytime soon. Especially when paper & pencils are so cheap, and good old permatrace even works in the rain.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for hi-tech. I love a good database, and am well-versed in plotting features by TST and/or GPS. I just don't see it as a case of one or the other, but not both.