This is a video of a fleet of (mostly?) Fedex planes trying to get around a thunderstorm that is approaching their base. Like many people have commented, this would make a great ad. Being a popular viral video, that is what it essentially already is. Sometimes you don’t need to spend big bucks to stage the whole thing, like Marck Ecko did.

One of the first computer games I ever got hooked on was Air Traffic Controller on Apple II. It was programmed by a former air traffic controller David Mannering in 1982. It was on the best seller list for quite some time in the beginning of 80′s. The game field was a 20×20 black and white grid of ASCII characters! Nethack has superb visual effects compared to this one.

Like the air traffic controller’s job, the simulation demands steady nerves under pressure and the ability to analyze complex situations quickly under pressure.

The player’s goal is to get all of the aircraft to their destination before the end of his shift. The computer screen shows a radar display of aircraft positions in the control area; coded information giving aircraft heading, destination and fuel supply; and navaids where aircraft can circle or be assigned automatic approaches.

In Air Traffic Controller the player assumes responsibility for the safety of air traffic in a 400 square mile sector. During one shift in charge of this airspace, 26 aircraft come under his control. jets and prop planes must be guided to and from airports, navigational beacons and entry/exit fixes. The aircraft enter the airspace at various altitudes and headings, and they enter whether the controller is ready or not.

The controller alters the altitudes and headings of the various aircraft by typing commands on the keyboard of the computer.

An advanced version allows more aircraft, introduces fuel limitations, and has four additional area maps, each with different challenges. No two games in either version are ever alike.

Posted by api in Wonders of technology

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