Interactive information and processing systems means different things to different groups of people. A system appropriate to a forecaster trying to add value in the forecasting sense to NWP output is not likely to be useful to an intelligent or meteorologically aware customer in a public utility such as the electricity generation industry. Similarly the demands of an aviator are likely to be quite different from a practising forecaster whose main responsibility is the generation of products, services and warnings for his local community.
However, many of the underlying problems and processes are common to all ways of working. This paper will describe an NT based system designed to meet as many of these display requirements as possible.
The system also has to meet other criteria. In particular the large dispersed customer base means that support is even more of an issue than usual. Complex bespoke software has to be kept to a minimum not distributed throughout the system. Standard components, particularly those that the user is likely to be familiar with, have been widely used. The system also has to be flexible and customisable by the user.
The system is currently being deployed within the UK to meet the needs of forecasters in local production units, meteorologically aware customers (for example RAF pilots, NATO) and commercial customers.
Does it meet the criteria? Not always but we have learned a great deal.
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