magic binoculars!

[stanman99]

if a pair of binoculars were invented with the ability to recognise any bird viewed,would you buy them?or would it take away the fun of identification

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

I wouldn't buy them... I prefer my optics as simple as possible, with no electronics or other gizmos if possible.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[django]

Would be a bit like having musical instrumets that anyone could play or eveybody being able to paint,write books,think it would take away any worth of your hobby,past-time,occupation, I am sure most Birders feel a sense of pride when they are able to pass on information to others,think about it what point would there be of this Birdforum if every Tom,Dick,or Harry could I.D. at the flick of a switch. indeed what would be the point of life (Bit heavy but I am sure members will get my meaning)

[Pileatus]

Would be a bit like having musical instrumets that anyone could play or eveybody being able to paint,write books,think it would take away any worth of your hobby,past-time,occupation, I am sure most Birders feel a sense of pride when they are able to pass on information to others,think about it what point would there be of this Birdforum if every Tom,Dick,or Harry could I.D. at the flick of a switch. indeed what would be the point of life (Bit heavy but I am sure members will get my meaning)
It's just a matter of time before this happens and it will be no different than looking up a word in the dictionary. Do you really consult a lexicographer every time you seek the meaning of a word?

Much will always be open to discussion. What mechanism governs the expansion and contraction of the hippocampus in the Black Capped chickadee? What mechanism makes Turkey Vultures immune to botulism? Personally, I’d rather discuss these topics than struggle for hours with a single ID.

John

[django]

I have spent a long time working at outdoor centres and have found a decline in youngsters taking up outdoor sports,many prefer to stay at home and play interactive games on their P.C. there is interactive mountain bike,fishing, kayak, you can paddle a grade five whitewater without getting wet,cold,or any risk(apart from eyestrain) my point is that to many technical gizmos will in time take away the challenge and adrenalin rush of being out there doing it,how long before we get interactive Birding you wont get wet,cold,scoff your T.V. meal when you like,but on the otherhand you wont be able to get away from the wife and kids

[Otto McDiesel]

struggle for hours with a single ID.

John

To some, that is the fun part of being a birder.

[Otto McDiesel]

Would be a bit like having musical instrumets that anyone could play or eveybody being able to paint,write books,think it would take away any worth of your hobby,past-time,occupation, I am sure most Birders feel a sense of pride when they are able to pass on information to others,think about it what point would there be of this Birdforum if every Tom,Dick,or Harry could I.D. at the flick of a switch. indeed what would be the point of life (Bit heavy but I am sure members will get my meaning)

That has already happened with animation movies. First, there were artists drawing and painting, and animation was a noble art. Now there are computers and any idiot can come up with a monstruosity like the animation movies of today. Aestethics and good taste are gone forever...

[Otto McDiesel]

What mechanism governs the expansion and contraction of the hippocampus in the Black Capped chickadee? What mechanism makes Turkey Vultures immune to botulism?

John

To some, that is the fun part of being a scientist..

[Otto McDiesel]

I have spent a long time working at outdoor centres and have found a decline in youngsters taking up outdoor sports,many prefer to stay at home and play interactive games on their P.C. there is interactive mountain bike,fishing, kayak, you can paddle a grade five whitewater without getting wet,cold,or any risk(apart from eyestrain) my point is that to many technical gizmos will in time take away the challenge and adrenalin rush of being out there doing it,how long before we get interactive Birding you wont get wet,cold,scoff your T.V. meal when you like,but on the otherhand you wont be able to get away from the wife and kids

I know what you are talking about. The conservation movement will die when we loose the birding and fishing and hunting public.
Nonetheless, no need to get away from wife and kids. The four of us (me, wife, and 4 and 6 year old girls) shot two deer and saw 46 species of birds this weekend. Take a 6 year old fishing and birding and hunting, and he/she will not end up being a turdhead in front of a TV.

[Otto McDiesel]

I wouldn't buy them... I prefer my optics as simple as possible, with no electronics or other gizmos if possible.



ME TOO, if it has more than two buttons, it's "evil"...

[Otto McDiesel]

decline in youngsters taking up outdoor sports,many prefer to stay at home and play interactive games on their P.C.

That is because of lazy, selfish, unloving parents, who would rather dump their kids in front of a TV instead of being parents and spending time with their kids. Working, commuting, and running around from soccer to ballet to church meetings for 70 hours per week does not help either.

[Otto McDiesel]

if a pair of binoculars were invented with the ability to recognise any bird viewed,would you buy them?or would it take away the fun of identification

For work, maybe, for play, no.

[django]

That has already happened with animation movies. First, there were artists drawing and painting, and animation was a noble art. Now there are computers and any idiot can come up with a monstruosity like the animation movies of today. Aestethics and good taste are gone forever... You think along the same lines as I do one has only to watch the Walt Disney Classics such as Bambi,Snow White, these had real soul if thats the right term,I dont think modern animations come anywhere near them they are so sterile as I SAID NO SOUL.

[xenophobe]

You think along the same lines as I do one has only to watch the Walt Disney Classics such as Bambi,Snow White, these had real soul if thats the right term,I dont think modern animations come anywhere near them they are so sterile as I SAID NO SOUL.

Watch a good animated movie like Finding Nemo, Incredibles, or claymation like Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit series. True art is still there, just the medium has changed. IOW, some things require true talent and skill, and producing a quality animation, regardless if you're flipping pages, or doing 3d modeling, a masterpiece is still a rare thing.


Anyways, I wouldn't buy a pair of binoculars that would automatically ID birds... but I might buy a pair if there was some sort of x-ray vision involved... lol. that's bad. :t:

[Swissboy]

.. but I might buy a pair if there was some sort of x-ray vision involved... lol. that's bad. :t:

I know what you mean ;) , but I think that might take all the fun out of it. Just BONES!

[The Devil Bird]

How on earth do these people manage to create a pair of binoculars that can intstantly identify a bird. That is just creepy. Maybee it could be useful if you are scanning through a flock of gulls or waders! But on the other hand, I agree it takes the fun out of birding. Another point, what if you don't have your camera on you and you are confronted with a warbler or somthing that could be the the first ever for your region or country or even area in the world, such as the western palearic. Then you'd want them! Where did you find out about these weirdos anyway? I'll try on google and the birdwatcher's seach engine. But please send the website! They must be atleast £1000, I wonder how good quality they are. Next it will be a scope that can do it, or a ditital camera. Maybee a PDA software that detects birds! :bounce:

[The Devil Bird]

Sorry, missread your post. [I]IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE! I would probably say yes, just incase of any of the above situations!

[xenophobe]

I know what you mean ;) , but I think that might take all the fun out of it. Just BONES!

Well, I didn't mean THAT much x-raying... through some fabric perhaps... lol. *hoping for excellent color rendition and high resolution* ;)

[Swissboy]

Well, I didn't mean THAT much x-raying... through some fabric perhaps... lol. *hoping for excellent color rendition and high resolution* ;)

This is what I meant, of course, so I just wanted to say where it might lead instead. 3:-)

[Renze de Vries]

if a pair of binoculars were invented with the ability to recognise any bird viewed,would you buy them?or would it take away the fun of identification

The trouble with birders, and I'm one of them..., is they're jumping to conclusions instead of asking relevant questions. Some of them even think they're doing you a favor. Now think about having one of them inside your binoculars...

Renze de Vries