Skating on thin ice? Judging the quality of communication products

Like many of you, I spent every evening for two weeks in February watching television coverage of the Winter Olympic Games, enjoying my favorite events from years past and learning about some new ones. Although the figure skaters, ski jumpers, and snowboarders always impress me with their grace, elegance, and daring, I usually prefer timed events such as bobsleigh, luge, and speedskating over the subjectively judged events. This year, however, all eyes seemed to be focused on the figure skating rink from the beginning of the Games till their end. On the third day of competition, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were awarded silver medals in the pairs figure skating event, when most spectators and commentators agreed that they had skated a nearly flawless long program and that the pair initially awarded the gold medals had made several small mistakes. An ensuing scandal over alleged judging improprieties eventually forced International Skating Union authorities to award gold medals to Sale and Pelletier as well. Ten days later, on the final evening of the women's figure skating event, 16-year-old Sarah Hughes leapfrogged from fourth to first place by skating the most technically complex routine ever attempted by a female skater and by doing so with nearly perfect form. The joy on her face as she completed her long program didn't reflect her realization that she had won the gold. That would come later, after the event leaders had skated slightly flawed performances. Instead, it reflected her satisfaction in knowing that she had not only done the best she was capable of doing but had raised the bar for future competitions. The judges agreed and awarded her the gold medal.