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+---
+id:
+aliases: []
+title: Nontraditional Computing for Construction Estimating
+tags:
+  - authorship/original
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/incomplete
+  - topic/construction
+  - topic/estimating
+  - type/cross-topic
+---
+# Nontraditional Computing for Construction Estimating
+
+Cross-topic of [[nontraditional-computing]] and [[construction-estimating]].
+
+### Sketch-Based Lookup
+
+%% TODO:
+This section is a transcription of a dictation.
+To be condensed.
+%%
+
+A better use for computer vision in estimating
+is sketch based assembly lookup.
+Probably the the biggest hang-up in the workflow
+is searching through available assemblies and items based on text,
+which has a number of problems,
+mostly that names, in electrical material for certain, are practically meaningless.
+
+Trade names are incorrect, and there are often many different names for the same item.
+Basically, there's just so many problems with text-based lookup as a rule.
+That sketching and handwriting recognition would be more idiomatic.
+
+Drawing lines for raceways, angles representing bends,
+squiggly lines representing flexible conduit, etc.
+All things that are common sketching conventions
+that estimators are probably drawing in their workflow anyway.
+
+Many parts of the estimating workflow would be greatly benefited
+by the sort of non-traditional interface that Ink & Switch promotes.
+Traditionally estimating software is all tables and forms.
+
+Suppose you were to sketch a takeoff indicating a run
+
+1. from a panel
+2. up to the ceiling
+3. across the building
+4. down to a disconnect
+5. out through a flex connection
+6. to a piece of equipment
+
+that's a very complex assembly,
+and despite how common it is,
+it can be very difficult to to get exactly that from databases.
+
+Suppose instead you draw that that sketch
+and the application creates a graph
+of all the primitive parts of that assembly.
+
+It may include the panel and the equipment by default
+but with the same stylus you used to draw the sketch,
+you just cross out the panel, the equipment,
+the parts that that you didn't intend to include.
+
+1. Draw a line from start to end.
+  * A canvas appears on top of the plans.
+2. Sketch the desired assembly with predetermined conventions.
+3. Draw a checkmark to confirm
+  * A render of the interpreted assembly appears
+4. Draw a second checkmark to select.
+
+A Non-Traditional Computing approach
+(journal-type, heavy-stylus-use),
+would would be great here, too.
+
+Keyboards as a takeoff input device are an anti-pattern.
+Every time you're entering data is an interruption.
+
+But perfect for that would be drawing takeoffs on the on the prints
+then using stylus based interaction patterns to edit them.
+Lasso selecting groups of takeoffs to change aspects of them.
+
+There is so little typing necessary.
+Everything that you're typing is just short descriptors
+that, in a lot of cases, don't even need to exist.
+the language exists purely to roughly communicate ideas
+that are intuitive in even a crude sketch.
+
+Estimating is a perfect use case
+for a purely stylus and handwriting recognition based workflow,
+probably more perfect than whatever Ink & Switch is using.