Comments about Using the Kickstarter Version of the App

[Jerry Bromenshenk]

If you are a Backer and Participant in the Tuning of Bee Health Guru, please share your impressions and experiences with the app. Each of you is critical to beta testing the app and to the tuning of the app for accuracy and use. We can only fix problems and improve the app if we hear from you. Obviously, we also want to know what you like about the app and our objectives. Thanks for sharing what you learn.

[rcav8r]

Whats the basis of determining the foulbrood disease percentage? In 3 of my 4 hives, it hovers around 27%, one was 42%, but there is no sign of it at all.

Would also like access to reports after we send them, for comparison purposes.

[Jerry Bromenshenk]

The bars read 0 to 100% probability. AFB is one variable that seems to be working. Anything under 50% is unlikely to be of concern. We have seen that the app can hit 80% or higher for AFB. We've seen about 10% of colonies in apiaries with visible signs of AFB show a probability greater than 50% with no visible signs, yet later in the season, those colonies either expired or displayed unusual behaviors such as excessive propolis. We know from published studies that in any bee yard with AFB, spores and DNA evidence can be seen in colonies that are not manifesting AFB signs.

[dhpacific]

For clarification...are we only red-flagging bars that are over 50% like you state with AFB above?

[Jerry Bromenshenk]

It may change with the variable. For example, we hope to be able to accurately tune for a spectrum of levels of mite infestation. Our tests with high-end recorder showed this to be possible. Where those thresholds occur, what the probability readings at those thresholds will be is part of the necessary tuning for smartphone hardware (audio cards and microphones).