In a recent editorial, the editor of Evaluation Engineering, the only trade magazine left that specializes in covering the electronics test and measurement industry, asked the title question. In asking the question he brought up the 2017 collision between the USS John McCain and a Libyan oil tanker. He wrote:
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation report stated that the McCain sailors were using an integrated bridge and navigation system (IBNS), which is a multifunctional pair of touchscreens designed by Northrup-Grumman.
That interface had been installed only a year before the fatal accident, and the NTSB report stated that the lack of proper training on the new touchscreen interface was the cause. Prior to installing the IBNS, McCain sailors had been using traditional mechanical controls with knobs and dials. The NTSB found that in the August 2017 incident, a sailor became confused about the interface that controlled only one side of the ship, with that sailor instead believing he was commanding steering of the entire ship’s destroyer’s throttle.
As a result of the tragedy, the U.S. Navy will revert its destroyers back onto a physical throttle and traditional knobs-and-dials control system over the next 18 to 24 months.
He goes on to ask the question whether or not the increasing use of touchscreens on electronic test equipment is a good thing or a bad thing. Pretty much the same question could be asked of amateur radio gear. Even relatively inexpensive radios, such as the IC-7300 (below) are using touchscreens. In fact, the touchscreen is one of the big selling points of this radio.
I rather like the touchscreen on my IC-7300, especially after I figured out how to use it. And, I think that the designers did a good job of balancing the use of the touch screen with the knobs and buttons on the radio. I think it would be a pain in the butt to have to adjust the volume by tapping the screen or clicking on an icon.
Personally, I think that the Navy jumped the gun on their decision to eliminate touchscreens altogether. As was pointed out, the problem wasn’t necessarily the touchschreen, but rather a lack of training on how to use it. Perhaps a hybrid approach, such as on the IC-7300 would have been a better choice than going back to all manual controls.
What do you think? If you have a touchscreen on your radio, tell me how you like it (or dislike it).
Not just the USN. The current Honda generation of Accords has knobs for volume and tuning in the entertainment system, replacing the complete reliance on the touchscreen in the previous generation. There seem to be subtleties to ergonomics where physical controls are more natural. My guess is that better training would make the touchscreen more usable, but it may not be the best solution for all functions.
Personally, I am a Flex user, and haven’t touched a physical knob in a decade. Works for me, but then I am not steering a ship in congested waters.
Touch screen interface are fine, as long as they are well designed. A good user interface should be intuitive. The required training should be minimal.
have said that I believe I can safely assume that navy interface was the product of the typical military mentality , designed by committee, the members of which had never used it, but were self appointed experts who wanted everything they could think of to the interface.
Remember a elephant is just a mouse built to MILSPEC, “mammal, gray, 4 legs”.
HVAC controls in autos are going back to knobs, after folks complained about not being able to grab a temperature or fan knob . Something more satisfying about being able to crank the A/C to ‘freezing’ almost instantaneously.
Two problems with touch screens. 1. They eventually become “soft” and more pressure is needed to get a reaction (this may be older, plastic-faced panels) or the screen may not be as clean as it should and does not react to a simple touch.
2. They are useless for blind hams. I was providing running commentary to a blind ham about an Icom ID-5100 transceiver. I lost him at touch screen.
Touch screens do have value, but as anything technological, they can seriously be overdone.
Touchscreens are also a single point of failure which can knock out most functionality of the device.