Winter landscape

[daddylito]

This winter we had got a lot of snow in many countries in Europe,
but sad to say, YoWindow will often display a naked landscape instead of the
winter landscape.

I believe this is an important issue for the confidence of YoWindow from
new users, computer magazines.....

I understand the difficulties in determining which landscape to choose,
but I suggest that we discuss improvements in the algorithms used.

[FvE]

I really wouldn't know the possibility's we do or don't have here at the moment, but I do agree with you.

[daddylito]

I believe that currently is a winter landscape used, if temperature in the forecast at 3 pm
is -5 degrees or colder. The same landscape is displayed the whole day.

Now when sun is starting to give warmth, a winter day could be -15 degrees at night and
only a few minus degrees in the afternoon and YoWindow would use the naked landscape.

I am not looking for a complex algorithm.

A simple and perhaps obvious algorithm is:
If it is minus degrees display winter landscape otherwise a naked landscape.
This would lead to that at many places would it now be winter in the morning and at night
but naked some of the day.

Another solution would be that use current solution but instead of using the temperature at 3 pm,
use coldest temperature per day.

[daddylito]

I had the impression of that if you specified a winter period in the YoWindow season map
the program would all the period display a winter landscape.

When reading season map instructions you can instead get an impression of that it doesn't
matter if you specify a winter period or not!

Basically you have to give me the dates when you want the seasonal picture to change.


Example:
Saint-Petersburg/Russia
naked: 31 mar
spring: 1 may
summer: 1 jun
autumn: 1 oct
naked: 29 oct
winter: 24 nov

You may help me and provide the season map in YoWindow format this way, this is better:
03.31:naked/05.01:spring/06.01:summer/10.01:autumn/10.29:naked/11.24:winter

One more thing.
YoWindow automatically detects winter start/end.
If you don't know the exact start/end of winter, just omit it.
YoWindow will pick winter itself.

This is the same season-map without winter.
05.01:spring/06.01:summer/10.01:autumn/10.29:naked

But I have just discovered that YoWindow handles differently in selecting
naked or winter landscape depending on specifications in season map.

If winter period, winter landscape is displayed if temp is lower than +4 (or +5) degrees otherwise naked landscape.
if naked period, winter landscape is displayed if temp is lower than -4 degrees otherwise naked landscape.

I am not saying that this is wrong, I was not aware of this!

But I am not convinced that this algorithm is optimal.

[FvE]

Hmmm, very interesting.
Didn't found out myself, so thanks for reporting.

And, once again: I do agree that we should discuss this algorithm.

[par]

Hey, Daddy!

I agree with you, of course we could make this winter detection algorithm better.
And I think we have to describe the algorithm in FAQ.
I have marked this topic for the future.
When I'm done with the planned tasks I'll get back to this topic.

But if you guys will develop a good algorithm without me, I don't mind

[daddylito]

Pasha, thanks for your reply!

There is no need to specify the solution now, soon it´s spring!
Current solution is not that bad, but as you say, information in the FAQ is needed.

Now when I understand the current algorithm, I take the moment to make the following comments:
1) The idea of that temperature at 3 pm controls selected landscape can perhaps be improved!
2) The same landscape is displayed the whole day, If it´s possible change landscape as weather changes during the day.
3) Due to the year to year variation of when winter occurs the handling of naked and winter season perhaps should not differ that much.
4) Either 3) or the definition of the winter period: As the snow period, the period when the ground is covered by snow (almost every year).
5) The combination of 1) and a temperature of colder than -4 to select winter landscape can be improved for the naked period

A problem next winter will be that many in Europe remembers this extreme winter and
will specify a season map with a long winter even though many perhaps shouldn´t specify any winter at all.

Canadians! A fantastic opening of the Olympics!