Thanks PTF et al for the detailed posts.
Application of stats and probability to non stationary data is exemplified here in specific ways. Not too swift.
As we see there are many ways to quantify "patterns". Most likely anyone studing them and leraning about them would use the more conventionally defined (geometric on screens and in coded detection) multitude of patterns.
For anyway a person does it, there is always a larger context because patterns are subordinant to other market general characterisitcs as defined by market variables.
Speaking from the vantage point of always being in the markets and conducting extraction, all patterns have utility. That is true from their inception to their demise.
By the consideration of seven different and enveloping fractals, it may be seen how the general market characterisitcs act as containers for the subordinant patterns contained there in.
A double bottom was mentioned and referenced to a popular source. For making money, a double bottom is the site of four profit taking segments. Different successful methods use these opportunities more or less. As non stationary occurrences each and everyone can be handled manually, mechanically and automatically.
If one where to organize by links and nodes the relationships of the patterns, it becomes rather simple to apply Alexander's method to show the spectrum of strengths of group and individual linkages.
In this way, the front running methodology set in place and, in use, is accomplished. Furthermore, the crucial aspect of making money, which lies with taking profits appropriately, can be handled by fine differentiations of adjacencies in the multitiered heirarchy.
We can all admire "guts" in trading. and it is recognizable that their application is not often a requirement when organizational tools and trading tools can be made available.
A brief speculation. What would it be like if PTF were to recognize the two main groups into which any kind of diferentiated patterns fell? If A and B were recognizable and sets of tools were made available for each, what would be the trading consequences of no longer using "guts" as the common approach.
There is always one consequence of improved trading: more time in the market. 5.5 becomes 11.0 for example. From a use of market time viewpopint, the roughout of time in the market to total time available, is often a small decimal fraction compared to 1.0. How many doublings are available is a good question to consider at least once in a while.
Crayola 201 was designed to deal with patterns. It is the opposite of Darvas' box trading. What fraction of each day is made not available because of patterns (if a person decides to sideline during patterns)?
Have many people here as yet recognized the relationship of HV trading to patterns?