RMF Judging System - Modem 750 S

RMF Judging System - Model 750 V1.3

Software instructions

New features in Version 1.3
Requirements and Features
Possible Antivirus Warning
Startup Options
Keypad Setup
Voting Options
Voting Procedure
Normal Voting
Top-Score Voting
Corrections To Votes
History List
About Box

New features in Version 1.3

In AVERAGE SCORE MODE, a zero vote will show as a zero vote but will not be considered in the average vote. It will merely cause the system to take the average of the other two votes.
A vote of '10' is now allowed. A '10' vote can be entered with the '+' key.
The history list has been enhanced to record the judges individual scores. If the 'Hide Judges Score' option is set, a '*' will be displayed in the history list for the judges. If the history list is saved to a file, the '*' will be replaced with the actual judges scores.
The history list will now scroll so the last couple of votes are in view.

Requirements and Features

Operating System Requirements: Windows XP Professional or Home Edition.

Video Resolution: Minimum of 1024x768.

Features:

Large numbers and text make for easy reading from a distance

Total score can be cumulative or averaged

Support for Top Score Voting (In and Out)

The last vote can be revoked if needed

All votes are recorded in the history window. The history window can be saved to a comma delimited file for inclusion into a spreadsheet.

Follow the hardware instructions to hook your keypads up to the computer. Make sure the Num Lock function on each keypad is on before voting begins.

Possible Antivirus Warning

It is possible that some antivirus programs may flag the Judging System as a keyboard logger. It is true that system calls are made to intercept keyboard input - thats how we receive keypresses from the voting keypads - but the only purpose of this is to receive votes from multiple keypads. You can ignore or exclude the warning that may appear.

Startup Options

When the program first starts, an option dialog will be displayed. The last used options will be presented in the dialog. The computer operator can change these as needed.

Number of Judges: The number of judges that will be voting. If less than 3 judges are voting, Top Score Voting will be disabled. If only 1 judge is voting, the Zero Vote feature wil be disabled.

Hide Judges Scores: If checked, individual judges scores will not be displayed on the screen. Only the total score is displayed.

Total Score is Sum of Judges Scores: The total score is calculated by the sum of the judges scores.

Zero Vote:

(only available with 'Sum' voting above)

Check this if a judge will be voting on one of their photos. When the photo submitted by one of the judges is up for voting, that judge should enter a zero (0) vote. If three judges are voting, a zero vote will be replaced by the rounded average of the other two judges. If only two judges are voting, a zero vote is replaced by the other judges score. Zero Vote is not available if only one judge is voting.

A Zero vote will show up in the scoring window as a zero followed by a colon and then the rounded average used in the score. An example follows:

Total Score is Average of Judges Scores: The total score is calculated by the average of the judges scores. If a zero is cast by one of the judges, the other judges scores will be averaged. The zero will not be used in any calculations.

Keypad Setup

Double click on the RMF icon on the desktop or in the start menu to start the judging system. A screen similar to the following will display:

Each judge should have one keypad in front of them. The computer needs to know where each keypad is located, so a setup procedure needs to be done. To start this setup, the computer operator needs to click on the 'Setup Keypads' button.

The dark grey boxes on the screen will change to the following:

At this prompt, judge 1 should press a key on their keypad. The display will change to the following:

At this prompt, judge 2 should press a key on their keypad. This sequence repeats for the third judge. After all three judges have pressed a key on their keypad, the display will change to the following:

At this prompt, the computer operator needs to press a key on the computers keyboard. This completes the keypad setup and voting can begin.

Voting Options

The computer operator can select the type of voting that is going to take place. This option can change at anytime during a judging session.

In 'Normal Voting', the judges vote by pressing a single digit 1 through 9 on the keypad. The total score, based on the scoring options, is displayed in the large grey box on the screen (the total score box).

In 'Top Score Voting', the judges vote by pressing the Ins key (IN) or the Del key (OUT). Two or three INs will display an IN in the total score box. Two or three OUTs will display an OUT in the total score box.

Voting Procedure

After the keypads have been setup, the white rectangular window (the info window) will display:

Click the 'Start Voting' button to begin a judging session.

Normal Voting (Numeric scoring)

The info window will display the following:

The judges can now cast their vote by pressing a single key (1 - 9 or a '+' for a 10) on their keypad. When a vote is cast, the judges window will display 'CAST'. No scores are displayed until all judges have voted. In the picture below, judges 1 and 3 have already voted. Judge 2 still has to vote in order to complete the judging for Picture 1.

After all judges have voted, the three judges scores are displayed along with the total score. If the 'Hide Judges Scores' option has been selected, astericks will replace the numeric numbers of individual judges. If less than three judges are voting, the scores not being used will display 'N/A'. See the startup options for the different methods of calculating the total score.

Top Score Voting (IN/OUT)

If Top Score voting is active, the info window will display:

The judges can now cast their vote by pressing the Ins (IN) key or Del (OUT) key on their keypad.. When a vote is cast the judges window will display 'CAST'. Again, no scores are displayed until all judges have voted. After all judges have voted, the three judges scores are displayed along with the total score.

Corrections to Votes

If during a vote a judge wants to correct their vote and the total score has not been displayed yet, the computer operator can click the 'Restart Voting' button to clear the current vote in progress and have the judges vote again on the same item.

If a vote is complete and a judge wants to correct their vote (the total score has been displayed), the computer operator can revoke the last vote. The judges vote on the same item again. The revoked vote is also removed from the history list.

History List

The history list keeps record of all voting. Top score voting will contain an 'S' in front of the picture number. If you would like to save the history to a comma delimited file that can be imported into a spreadsheet or simply printed, click the Save button and choose the file name and location for the history file.

About Box

The about box can be displayed by clicking on the RMF icon.

The about box displays the software version number along with RMF Products Inc. contact information.

Number of Judges:	The number of judges that will be voting. If less than 3 judges are voting, Top Score Voting will be disabled. If only 1 judge is voting, the Zero Vote feature wil be disabled.
Hide Judges Scores:	If checked, individual judges scores will not be displayed on the screen. Only the total score is displayed.
Total Score is Sum of Judges Scores:	The total score is calculated by the sum of the judges scores.
Zero Vote: (only available with 'Sum' voting above)	Check this if a judge will be voting on one of their photos. When the photo submitted by one of the judges is up for voting, that judge should enter a zero (0) vote. If three judges are voting, a zero vote will be replaced by the rounded average of the other two judges. If only two judges are voting, a zero vote is replaced by the other judges score. Zero Vote is not available if only one judge is voting. A Zero vote will show up in the scoring window as a zero followed by a colon and then the rounded average used in the score. An example follows:
Total Score is Average of Judges Scores:	The total score is calculated by the average of the judges scores. If a zero is cast by one of the judges, the other judges scores will be averaged. The zero will not be used in any calculations.