US Navy will replace touchscreen with mechanical controls on its destroyers (theverge.com)

Article summary

The US Navy is replacing touchscreen controls with mechanical ones on its destroyers due to issues with the design of the ship's control console, which contributed to a 2017 collision. The National Transportation Safety Board's report cited the touchscreen controls as a factor in the accident, which killed 10 sailors and injured 48. The Navy will begin replacing the controls in the summer of 2020. The decision is based on fleet-wide surveys, which showed that personnel prefer mechanical controls.

Main themes

• touchscreen controls
• mechanical controls
• ship safety
• human-machine interface
• accident prevention

What commenters say

• Touchscreens are not suitable for high-stakes systems that require dedicated controls and tactile feedback.
• Manual controls are preferred over automated systems for critical functions like defrosting windows.
• Automated systems can be useful, but they should supplement, not replace, manual controls.
• The introduction of high-tech options can lead to the removal of manual options, which can be problematic.
• A combination of temperature and humidity sensing can be used to approximate the likelihood of window fogging and automate defrosting.
• Simple, low-tech solutions like cameras or visual observation can be effective in detecting window fogging.
• The use of heated windshields or double-pane glass can be an effective solution to prevent window fogging.
• Over-reliance on technology can lead to a lack of understanding of how systems work, making it difficult to operate them effectively.