tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post4822273923548636091..comments2024-03-29T08:14:43.839+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: How to save Money!fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-24663717494603945492021-04-10T09:33:36.610+01:002021-04-10T09:33:36.610+01:00Informative and interesting Blog! Beautifully writ...Informative and interesting Blog! Beautifully written, as usual, I like the post. Thank you so much for nice sharing with us. Keep posting!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.swindonairporttaxiservice.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Swindon transport</a>Darren Foxxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13116577511246719755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-43653577795264094732011-02-24T00:10:39.325+00:002011-02-24T00:10:39.325+00:00As someone who is familiar with this new style, I ...As someone who is familiar with this new style, I can comfirm that much of the detail in the PDF is automatically lifted from the underlying data and doesn't need re-entry. In the case of a cancellation, the system requires that you identify what is being cancelled: therefore, the application to cancel needs to be linked to the previous application for the same registration, which the PDF export then faithfully reports in full, along with the important fact that the new application is actually to delete all these old details. However, it is possible to suppress all this unnecessary waffle when the PDF is produced, but you may not know that the application is a cancellation before running off the full report!<br /><br />The actual registration is in the form of a electronic data file which can be processed by software through the VOSA acceptance and publication process; it can also feed Traveline databases, on-street timetable displays, real-time information, or even printed leaflets, without the need to re-enter routes and times. The PDF facility is a backup to all this in the absence of such software, but it is not completely foolproof, as this example shows. It tends to show everything which may, or may not, be relevant, and leaves the reader to decide what is and isn't. And there is more in the file which the PDF doesn't show, including all the grid references.<br /><br />Every bus stop in the country has a reference code- but other than the first four digits, which indicate the local authority location, the remainder is up to that authority to decide. Without knowing the particular stops listed, I can't say whether individual digits identify particular towns, districts, parishes, or whatever criteria was deemed important to the person who allocated these numbers. Perhaps they are just allowing for future expansion. In my local area, the stop codes have only nine digits, so it can vary from place to place.<br /><br />And, finally, while this new system does appear to be slightly cumbersome in places, it does have considerable benefits for those on the front line. It may just take some time to work through some of the initial hurdles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-84675170927785286942011-02-23T12:25:43.650+00:002011-02-23T12:25:43.650+00:00I can understand your thinking, but I don't th...I can understand your thinking, but I don't think your suggestion will bring any very significant savings for the government. Electro-magnetic data storage is cheap, but people are expensive - or at least, the use of their time is expensive. Additionally, from my experience of working in IT over the last 20 years, most users, when specifying new computer systems, tend to underestimate the number and size of fields required in their databases - amongst other things. The result - after a short period of use, the system has to be upgraded and enlarged with sometimes significant modifications. Yet, if that 'scope for expansion' had been built into the system when it was setup, the additional cost new would have been minimal compared to the cost of the later modifications - which, of course, use skilled people's expensive time. Therefore, it makes sense to 'over-specify' at the beginning, as there is a high probability that the initial excess capacity will be used later, and, if not, it is not expensive.<br /><br />As far as the stop reference numbers are concerned, yes, the code does seem long - but then the unique code for a bank account usually has 14 digits (sort code and account number in combination), which also potentially gives scope for far more accounts than would ever be required. However, parts of the code indicate specific aspects of the account - some are obvious, but there may be more that are known only to the banks. These may be used by the banks' computer systems - and the same may apply to the bus stop reference numbers. I am also not sure if the Ordnance Survey 8 digit grid reference would be sufficiently exact to identify individual stops - presumably the stops in each direction have separate reference numbers, even if they are opposite each other on different sides of the road? The OS grid references can have more digits, so that version may be satisfactory, and such a link would make sense. However, it may already be in the database table, but simply not presented on the information you receive.<br /><br />The paperless office - yes, I have to agree that has been a long time coming; and with early computer systems, there was a lot of data stored that was not previously available, but users didn't seem to have the confidence to trust the electronic data storage systems, so they tended to print everything out - with the frequent result of the exact opposite of the paperless office. <br /><br />There is perhaps a wider question of whether the collection of so much data is really necessary or desirable, or indeed, whether any sensible use is made of the data? If HCC (or any other authority, for that matter) uses the data to produce detailed timetables and maps of the services, then it probably is worthwhile - and it might even save the operator some of their publicity costs.<br /><br />You mention that the example in question is a cancellation, so I wonder if some of the fields were 'auto-filled' from the registration data already held for the service? If the system is well-designed, it should enable this to save work. However, if the system was really well designed, it would also probably be able to identify duplicated data, and not display it where that is unnecessary - in that respect, the system does seem rather poor. Unfortunately, it will require a skilled technician's time to change, and that may cost more than it saves - we're back to square one, I'm afraid!RC169https://www.blogger.com/profile/03921368833118123055noreply@blogger.com