Form factor question:

[Nate The Surveyor]

Somebody asked me if I liked the "form factor" of the LS.

Well, here are my comments: I often walk through the brush, (ARKANSAS brush) this is not your ordinary stuff! And, the little buttons on the bottom (the little legs it sits on, on a table) often hang up on vines and briars. I wish it had a rounded or conical bottom, to get through the woods. I know this would block the bottom camera. And the light.
And, speaking of which, the light to TOO CLOSE to the center of the LS. It should be out near the edge, so the light will hit the actual point being shot better, (to read a LS number, while observing the point) and to see the bubble better.
If I had a translucent plastic bottom made for it, that would allow diffused light, it might help. Even if it blocked the bottom cam.
What happens if I take out the bottom screws? Do you think I could use those screws to hold the bottom translucent part on? We are just talking theoretically at the moment. But it really does hang in the briars. The old Legacy E antennas are all scratched up, on the BOTTOMS from this effect.
Nate

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

Other comments. That have come to mind: The light only points down. I'd like it if it had 2 lights. ONE shines out front. (with a way to switch between them) When I store photos, of monuments, I like the foreward facing cam. Otherwise the leg, or prism pole hogs part of the shot. So, some of the places I go, want additional light, for the photo. I do some night work. because of a number of reasons. The GPS signal is nice and clear, with no sun spots, sending interference. Another thing, is the ON/OFF switch. It's pretty close to the LIGHT switch. I have pressed it a number of times. I'm learning where it is, so that does not happen as often. So, if the LIGHT switch had a button on it, so you could tell by feel in the dark, that'd be handy. Also, on the HOME button, on the right, if it also had a dot on it's rubber.
I'm not trying to discourage development. I'm trying to provide FEEDBACK for additional development. ALSO, if it had tiny little lights on the buttons, (colored) then we could just memorize the lights color, and then the "Dashboard" would work real good in the dark. These lights could be just to the side, or bottom of the button.
Feedback.
Thanks for being a company that listens.
Nate

 

[Michael Stazhkov]

Another thing, is the ON/OFF switch. It's pretty close to the LIGHT switch. I have pressed it a number of times.

Nate, as temporary solution we can add a light on/off option to user defined buttons U1-U4. Will it be useful?

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

Michael, The On-Off for the light, can be learned. After a while, It will be 2nd nature. So, for now leave it. (We need those U1 - U4 for more important things) So, for now it's ok.
I'm very interested in the FUTURE development of this product. So, my feedback has to be looked at carefully.... ie, There just has to be a Javad LS 3rd generation, (I guess the LS is the second generation of the VS?) And, as it develops, this kind of field feedback is a good thing. As much as this product is here, and at market, maybe leave some of these changes for the Generation 3 units? For right now, I have inverse set to U4, because it can be found in the dark. I'm learning this unit still.
BUT I think about my father. He's 88 yrs old. He is Arkansas PLS # 0902. He surveyed in California, under Joe McKee, RCE 513, as I recall. I grew up carrying around a little can, with cement and sand and little brass washers, and nails. I set many of those little brass tags in the tops of 3/4" pipes. I grew up surveying. I'm thinking ahead.

To make this product really GREAT we have to simplify it, and make it accessible to the older generation. What this means is that we wind up having to build simplicity into things, so that the untrained will go well with it too.
I reckon it's probably too late for my dad... I went into the field with him last Friday. I asked him to go to the ATV and get the metal detector... he replied "Which way is the 4-Wheeler?" Naw, he probably won't come along for the Javad ride. But, I want to make this unit accessible to the non-initiate, and these are things I think of, as I build my concept. Another thing he observed was "That thing tells you which way to go....." (He used to run the LOCUS units, which were static, passive units) and he saw that I was getting DIRECTIONS from the LS. So, he was observing...
But, the ideas that come to mind, are: a RECESSED button, for the on and off, and a little bump on the surface of the light button, to find it in the dark. These changes are small, in the casting of the rubber/silicone membrane... but I am thinking LONG TERM. I'm wanting to be here for generation 4, and generation 5, and to provide feedback for their development!


Thank you Mr Javad, and your whole team, for making a product for surveyors.
Nate

 

[Javad]

Nate, we will put raised dots on the ON/OFF button on the next version of the rubber. I don't think people use the Headset connector now. We will make Bluetooth headset and use the current headset connector for "light accessory". We will design a flexible light fixture that you connect to the headset connector and rotate it to any direction that you want. It can also shine on keypads. What do you think?

 

[Javad]

Nate, there are lots of USB lights in the market. Please see if for now any of them can help for the type of job that you do. Some of them are small. You can connect them to the USB port. I just saw them at Amazon.com.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

For now, I bought a headlight,http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boruit-6000...561759?hash=item1a0ad020df:g:HdsAAOSwNyFWb8Lf, and it is very bright.

Long term, I'd like to see just little lights on the "Dashboard" of the LS. Either little lighted dots, above, or below....

IF:

The little words "Setup" "Stake" "On/Off" "Mute" "Light" simply lit up at night, that would do it.
And, the <---User Defined---> word was lit up as well, with little dots of light on the buttons, or right above/or below them, that would do it. LED lights do not use alot of power.

I don't know how hard it would be to implement these ideas, but long term, they would be good for the guy in the field, in the dark!

Again, thanks for being "the MOST responsive to the guy in the dirt", GPS developer on earth!

Nate

 

[Javad]

Thanks Nate. We will do all we can. Thanks for your support.

 

[Matt Johnson]

Nate, we will put raised dots on the ON/OFF button on the next version of the rubber.

I would suggest putting the raised dots on the Light button rather than the On/Off button. Being on the Light button will make it easier to figure out which button it is when it is dark.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

Matt's suggestion is better.
I have been toying with the idea of a "rain gutter" across the top, for using it in the rain. I don't like to do alot of rain work, but it seems that about 2x a year, I do it anyway. If there are going to be changes in the rubber, then this is the time to address this. I am not sure that the developers will like this... but it is a fact of life for us. Water running down the face seems not too good. And, a little gutter might be a good idea. What do others think?
Thanks everybody!
N

 

[Matt Johnson]

If it is raining, I think it will be pretty difficult to keep the display from getting wet. Shawn's cowboy hat might work though.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

a few drops on display is not going to hurt it. But, if it is coming down hard, and running down the face.... just trying to think ahead. A little rubber ridge, to send water to the sides might be handy.

 

[Matt Johnson]

Rain should not damage the LS if that is what you are concerned about. It is IP67 rated meaning that it is protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. The biggest problem with it getting wet is that it makes it difficult for the capacitive screen to respond correctly when you touch it.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

And, THAT Matt is why I suggested a little rubber gutter.