Surely the point is that the current weather symbols were introduced at a time when there was no other good way to show rain/sun/snow on a weather map. It reminds me of Billy Connelly's famous routine: 'We know what a f***king cloud looks like!'
In this computerised age what is the point of using 1970's representations of rain or sunshine when they can just show us rain or sunshine?
I know this might seem slightly stupid, but with the old maps you can poke your head around the corner or look up quickly, see symbols and know if it's going to be sunny or rainy. Admittedly we haven't seen the full launch, but symbols do come in handy and are a quick way of identifying what's happening weather wise in your region. If they jazz it up and keep the symbols fine, but if they jazz it up and lose the symbols they've shot themselves in the foot. Well for a few weeks anyway until people get used to it.
Look North (NE & Cumbria) seem to have given most of the main weather graphic changes away. You can see the world view, the UK view, Europe and various flying effects. Also, a peak at the shiny 'supercomputers'.
BBC news audiences in the United Kingdom and around the globe will see the weather Kiwi Style from tomorrow as they launch New Zealand's own Metra Information Ltd's weather graphics and animation software, Weatherscape XT, on their 15 domestic nations and regions television stations, main news, BBC World, new media and interactive services.
Look North (NE & Cumbria) seem to have given most of the main weather graphic changes away. You can see the world view, the UK view, Europe and various flying effects. Also, a peak at the shiny 'supercomputers'.
thats pretty much the same as our weather graphics over here. although our maps are more detailed and realistic and when they show the weather from that day the map goes from day to night
BBC news audiences in the United Kingdom and around the globe will see the weather Kiwi Style from tomorrow as they launch New Zealand's own Metra Information Ltd's weather graphics and animation software, Weatherscape XT, on their 15 domestic nations and regions television stations, main news, BBC World, new media and interactive services.
Well there was a nice feature on Breakfast this morning with Carol Kirkwood and Bill Turnbull. Bill in fact asked the question that many have asked on here: why is Britain brown and not green? The decision was indeed made - apparently as a result of audience research and common sense - because brown shows off the elements far better than green.
Seeing the graphics in action, I can certainly understand many people's concerns about the clarity and ease of understanding of the new system. However, as with most radical changes - which in the context of BBC Weather presentation this certainly is - there will inevitably be a period of distaste for the new order of things, and a period of adjustment, in terms of taste as well as comprehension.
I think it's best for everyone to do their best to reserve their judgement, not just until Monday, but for at least a few days afterwards until the new methods have had a chance to sink in properly. Despite this plea, I know with absolute certainty that come Monday, there'll be a grotesque backlash against the new graphics, and a wretched outpouring of grief and mourning of the old system with such intelligent comments as "I HATE IT", "how can they justify wasting money on dross like this when they're sacking people and making cuts across the BBC?" and "bring back the balloon". I also eagerly await amusing comments linking the cries of "bring back the balloon" and weather balloons.