This really is a good topic for one of those Contest Sponsor surveys of the
contesting community.
SCP, history files, zone autofill, auto dupe checking, even auto beam heading
are all "automated operating aids" that replaced either human skills or hard
copy operating aids because the technology enabled integrating it into contest
logging software.
Contest "octopusses" were once going to be the end of contesting, but now SO2R
boxes are commonly accepted use of technology to enable an equipped operator to
vastly out-perform an unequipped operator.
The flip side of technology is that the contest sponsors get to use it too - we
are now routinely judged on accuracy and the bar for acceptable accuracy is way
higher than it was in the paper logging days. It is also way more fun to make
4200 hundred "technology assisted" contacts with a small number of dupes across
48 hours than it was to make 2500 with lots of dupes using paper and pen.
Genies do get put back in bottles, as in rules against certain types of swim
suits or car modifications in competitive swimming and car racing. It is up to
the contest sponsors and the overall sense of the competitors to decide, there
are not absolutes.
Personally, I'd fill out the survey saying SCP and history files should only be
used in an assisted category and would actually like to see zone autofill fit
in that category. Autofill based on the current contest log, like dupe checking
and during contest exchange fill and comparison, I could see being allowed with
being considered assistance.
73 John K3TN
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