Pictorial Descriptions

[Red Adder]

I was trying to help a family of relative newcomers to the sport with pictorial descriptions at yesterdays event. Most are approximations to the symbol on the map, and that definition immediately made sense to them. With all the personal colour printers etc why do we still print description in black or purple when we could use the actual symbol and colours as they appear on the map ?

[We could also simplify side/edge/part in the precise location - I bet its only controllers, or my likely a sub-set of controllers who know, without referring to documentation, what precisely each of these means]

[RJ]

This was suggested a little while ago....

It is especially exasperating with the dot CD symbol.

Black on the map, boulder on the ground, black solid triangle on the CDs.

Black on the CDs, brown on the map, knoll on the ground

[SeanC]

What course were they running? Personally I think pictorial descriptions belong at the expert level courses - Green and longer. Text descriptions for all the other courses IMHO.

[Red Adder]

They were moving up from orange to light green - so not complete newcomers.

I think you could argue a case that true shape/cclour pictorial symbols could make as much sense as text for most courses.

[SeanC]

Personally I would prefer text on light green so people at these standards can focus on learning more important skills, following a bearing through terrain, feature recognition etc. There's so much to learn already. I know the argument is that pictorial descriptions are used at big events.

Maybe give both in the start lane for light green, that way it helps intermediate orienteers learn the symbols (mind you even after 35 years I don't know many of them ...)?

[JK]

I checked the BOF rules recently and for level C and above I couldn't see any option but pictorial descriptions. So does anyone have a rule reference that says text descriptions are permitted for *any* course?

BTW I was speaking to an experienced young junior who did the Orange and was disappointed that the separate descriptions were text - and therefore too wide for her description holder - and they fell out. I think it is good if separates are always pictorial,
and like to see pictorials for LG and up, although there are arguments for pictorials on all courses.

BTW2 countries such as CH use pictorials for all classes at all except the smallest events (but then again not all Swiss know each other's languages).

JK

[Gross]

(but then again not all Swiss know each other's languages).

And that's different in the UK?

[frostbite]

BTW I was speaking to an experienced young junior who did the Orange and was disappointed that the separate descriptions were text - and therefore too wide for her description holder - and they fell out. I think it is good if separates are always pictorial,
and like to see pictorials for LG and up, although there are arguments for pictorials on all courses.

My daughter (W12) wasn't impressed running Orange at the CS Cup and having to use text descriptions. Once you are used to them pictorials are much easier to read. Not all TD3/TD4 runners are "novices", they are young juniors who may have been orienteering competitively for a number of years.

[charles2]

Keep loose control descriptions as B&W as this improves readability in all light conditions by maintaining contrast and allows them to be glanced at and read quickly.

[graeme]

With all the personal colour printers etc why do we still print description in black or purple when we could ...

...use the additional bit of paper more effectively help pinpoint the precise position of the flag.

When you frame the question correctly, the answer becomes obvious: blown up map section with a purple dot at the site, like they do in TrailO solutions.

[seabird]

Personally I would prefer text on light green so people at these standards can focus on learning more important skills,

I have planned and attended numerous events at all levels for years in which only pictorial descriptions are used. It has never ever been a problem.

At level D events it is perfectly ok to go over the descriptions with those unfamiliar with them before they run. That way competitors are ready for pictorials when they move up to more serious competition levels.

I would never use text descriptions.

[Tatty]

Those who are dyslexic find pictorial easier

[Paul Frost]

I'm pretty sure that in Scotland the recommended practice is pictorial only for everyone.
Pictures/icons are easier to read regardless of age or language. There may be a few descriptions that are not obvious or in conflict with map symbols, but generally they are easier to work out.
On easier courses all the controls are likely to be on a path junction or similar very easy to work out symbol, so having text for them is pointless, it's likely almost very control location will be the same. It's on TD5 courses where you are likely to get some complex and unusual symbols.

[SeanC]

I can't understand why some of you can't understand the problem. I'm thinking of the adult beginner who could be on a light green course in an event or two. Giving people another list of symbols to learn in addition to learning all the map symbols, the actual orienteering skills, long list of event terminology etc? They will know what "boulders" are, and they'll still have to learn what orienteering depression is whether they use text or pictoral descriptions. I've seen lots of beginners come and go, and the information overload is definately one cause. I'm sure it's only a minor thing in comparison, but everything helps.

Many doing light green are at that frustrating stage of doing quite well for a few controls, then taking 20 minutes + for some controls, or not finding the thing at all and giving up in frustration. We want people to focus on skills not factual learning at this stage IMHO. In my experience, at least down in fairly easy Kentland with mostly TD4 forests, once people can follow a bearing through a forest, understand attack points, have a good feeling for scale, and have a good understanding of the common map symbols and what they look like on the ground, then the can move past this "can I really do this sport/should I do something I'm better at" stage and are much more likely to become regulars. Wider issues I know and many will just ignore the pictorial description at this stage aside from the number (but then more likely to miss the control).

Juniors who are used to pictorial descriptions, yes I understand. Ditto for people who are dyslexic and at bigger events for overseas visitors.

I like Graeme's idea though. That would be just one set of symbols to learn*.

*until a sprint event.

[pete.owens]

Those who are dyslexic find pictorial easier

As are those who have not yet learned to read.
Or those who do not understand obscure orienteering words - re-entrant, knoll, gully
Or those who want 1:7500 maps so cannot see the tiny fonts typically used for text descriptions.
Or those who have not learned the names of the compass points (or like me struggle with east and west)
Or those that are on holiday from Sweden and fancy popping to a local event.

Pictorial descriptions are easier, more intuitive, clearer and unambiguous so should be used for all courses. This gives people chance to gradually become familiar with the system on the less technical courses - where the only important thing is the control code - rather than be faced with learning a completely new system in its entirety just at the point where it starts to become important.