Thank you, I needed something like that today (having spent the day at the hospital where my mom underwent surgery). Bob Ammerman RAm Systems (contract development of high performance, high function, low-level software) ----- Original Message ----- From: Jinx To: Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 6:06 PM Subject: [OT]:Streuth mate, tie those kangaroos down will ya ? > The re-use of object-oriented computer code has caused tactical > headaches for Australia's armed forces. As virtual reality simulators > assume larger roles in helicopter combat training, programmers have > gone to great lengths to increase the realism of their scenarios, > including detailed landscapes, and in the case of the Northern > Territory's Operation Phoenix - herds of kangaroos (since disturbed > animals might give away a helicopter's position). > > The head of the Defence Science & Technology Organisation's Land > Operations (Simulation Division) reportedly instructed developers > to model the local marsupials' movements and reactions to helicopters. > Being efficient programmers, they appropriated some code originally > used to model infantry detachment reactions under the same > circumstances, changed a mapped icon from a soldier to a kangaroo, > and increased the figures' speed of movement. > > Eager to demonstrate their flying skills for some visiting American > pilots, the hotshot Aussies buzzed the virtual kangaroos in low > flight during a simulation. The kangaroos scattered, as predicted, > and the visiting Americans nodded appreciatively ... then did a > double-take as the kangaroos reappeared from behind a hill and > launched a barrage of Stinger missiles at the hapless helicopter. > Apparently the programmers had forgotten to remove that part of the > infantry coding ! The Yanks left with a new-found respect for > Australian wildlife. As to what wombats, wallabies and platypuses > carry in their pouches, that shall remain a secret in the interest > of national security. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.