Hello,
I feel the dutch have been robbed of a golden medal by a missing signalling system at vancouver olympics (ice (competition/race) skating) ! ;) :)
So I propose some kind of signalling system to indicate to the skaters in what lane they are supposed to skate ! Like so:
Each skater's first letter of front name and last name is taken for example:
SF = Skybuck Flying BG = Bill Gates
And then the signalling system displays it on led-screens like so:
SF BG | | | | | | | | ^ ^
Then supposed I am ahead and need to change to outer lane it will look like: | = lanes X = crossing section letters = displays. ^ = skaters direction (just to clearify the drawings)
| | | | x SF x BG | | | | | | | | | | ^ ^
Then later when BG arrives at the crossing it will look like:
| | | | x SF BG x | | | | ^ ^
So BG is on the right side and sees/knows it must now go to left side. SF is already on the right side, or changing too.
Additionally arrows could be used to make it perfectly clear:
If both need to change:
| | -> SF BG