[Squeakland] Weird Heading numbers

[Paulo Drummond]

Imho, there is no such thing as "real headings". Geometry, as its  
mother Mathematics is a wonderful symbolical language to provide us  
all means of mapping the physical world as we see it.

The use of semi-circular geometrical convention helps (among other  
things) in:
1) give the sense of "negative" when the object passes "downward" or  
"to the other side" of an 2-D axis (another convention);
2) the coming back rationally to zero instead of jumping from  
359º59'59" to it.

cheers,
Paulo

On May 25, 2007, at 7:19 PM, mstram wrote:

>
> While playing with the Etoys, I've noticed the "weird" heading  
> numbers.
>
> By that I mean when the object's heading passes 180 degrees,  
> instead of
> continuing on to 190 ... 270 .. 360, we get the negative numbers.
>
> Why was this convention adopted ?
>
> I think if kids ... and some us "older" kids are going to be using  
> headings
> it would be more educational and instructive to use "real" headings.
>
> Maybe an option / preference could be setup on which heading numbering
> system to use.
>
> The only minor problem I can see is whether it should be "0" or  
> "360" to
> begin with.
>
> Just for the fun of it, I'm digging in and seeing if I can  
> construct my own
> subclass to use the "360" system.   I have an idea for an ATC  
> simulation I'd
> like to do and "real" headings .. or at least converted for input  
> and output
> would be a must.
>
> Mike
> -- 
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Weird-Heading- 
> numbers-tf3818581.html#a10811065
> Sent from the SqueakLand mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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