Not connected but related! Many moons ago when I was a trainee in my chosen profession (test engineer). I was taught how to make measurements manually and calculate what the correct answer is by applying various factors. Since then many things have changed and everything has become computerised and automated - press a button and the machine has done everything for me - life is so good and easy and dare I say I prefer the new systems as it makes my job so much easier. Nevertheless, to this day I review the results my automated system gives me and I make a mental check in my head, as I know through the early days of doing it manually, if the answer looks right or wrong. I make sure that the youngsters who I train have the same fundamental understanding that I have and can do a manual measurement. Why? I have seen far to often blind acceptance of a result from an automated system with little understanding of how it was derived, machines/computer systems do make mistakes and you need to know when that happens. Like my work the GPS is a useful bit of technology which can make navigation in the mountains so much easier but you still need to understand the basic fundamentals of navigation to appreciate it and also make sure it has not gone mad! | 
Dorian
