Thoughts about AIS

[colemj]

I have great hope that the touch interface will get better. I don't think I could survive anymore without my multi-touch trackpad on my computer - which is pretty much a touch interface in many ways. That started out bad and got much better over time.

My first reaction to these types of things is "what am I missing here?". It often takes me a long time to figure that out.

Mark

[Pelagic]

Back in the early 90's the first touch screen IMO compliant ARPA radars came out.. (made by Raytheon).

BC Ferries installed a bunch.

What was discovered in the commercial sector was that the Mates loved them...but not the Masters.

Main reason cited was that if the Master was observing on the Bridge in heavy fog, he could not appreciate the target developments as well if the Mate was waving his hand around the screen.

They found themselves having to formally relieve the WK officer in order to concentrate on the radar.

They found that awkward and bad for morale.

I think that is why Black Box systems became the popular commercial choice.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I was to.... It comes only as an Apple App ... Not downloadable PDF for other formats.... Read the RM Forums and heard similar complaints.

Wrong, wrong, wrong

In May I downloaded from RM the manual and I just checked RM and it is still available

It's called "a-c-e Series Installation and operation instructions 81337-10-EN_WEB.pdf"

384 pages and 26MB

[carstenb]

I bought a Furuno MFD12 this past winter - a major consideration for me was that it did NOT have touch screen.

If you're in rough seas, even pushing big buttons can become a problem, much less a touchscreen

[DoubleWhisky]

I just realized that touchscreens probably appeal to bareboat charterers and dock queen owners - so probably about 90 % of the market, or more...

Abandon all the hope...

[colemj]

I am not up on all the latest models, but all of the touch screen ones I have seen (admittedly, only the Zeus and Furuno) also allow full control using buttons and a rotary knob. Is this not the case now?

Mark

[robert sailor]

Any of you guys ever test the range your ASI is putting out?? Checked a couple of local sailors and it was around 5 miles.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

I just realized that touchscreens probably appeal to bareboat charterers and dock queen owners - so probably about 90 % of the market, or more...

Abandon all the hope...

If you replaced "touchscreens" with "roller furlers" in that sentence, it would be right at home in a 1980's discussion!

I have hope based on past experiences with all interfaces.

Mark

[colemj]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Any of you guys ever test the range your ASI is putting out?? Checked a couple of local sailors and it was around 5 miles.

That's probably about right. It is a 2W transmission, so similar to low power on a VHF. Couple that with the ranges of antenna placement and quality of the coax and connections, and 5 miles is probably an average - although I would expect a masthead mount with good coax/connectors to reach a bit further (but probably not more than 8-10miles).

Heck, a lot of the boats out here with us can't be heard on 25W VHF 1 mile away!

Mark

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by colemj

I am not up on all the latest models, but all of the touch screen ones I have seen (admittedly, only the Zeus and Furuno) also allow full control using buttons and a rotary knob. Is this not the case now?

Mark

More and more are touch screen only.
And for dual interface - more and more functions are not accessible or not easily and readily accesible by buttons/rotary.

For me - I do not want touch screen at all, as it is easy to touch screen just by accident, more so in bumpy sea...

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by colemj

If you replaced "touchscreens" with "roller furlers" in that sentence, it would be right at home in a 1980's discussion!

I have hope based on past experiences with all interfaces.

Mark

I'm not against new technologies at all
Probably I'm rather overloaded with electronic gizmos...

I just want the choice, up to the moment, when the new technology is developed to reasonable level

The roller furlers were developed for sailing, touchscreens were not, and for the time being are not well suited to the sailing enviroment.
I think for the moment some kind of in-built mouse pad can be better choice...

On the other hand it is well worth to remember that several percent of people are not able to properly use the touch screens at all, and additional several percent is challenged in the use of them. Low electric conductivity of skin - it is genetic thing. Myself I have a some of a problem with this, but not much. But I can well understand that the touchscreen is totally useless for some.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Low electric conductivity of skin - it is genetic thing. Myself I have a some of a problem with this, but not much. But I can well understand that the touchscreen is totally useless for some.

Yes, I also have this! I didn't know that it was a genetic thing, but I find touch things do not respond to my fingers as well as they do to others. I just assumed that my fingertips are usually dry, calloused and peeling from normal work on the boat.

Here is a funny example: we recently arrived in Colombia, where immigration requires fingerprints. They use a fingerprint scanner for it. They could not get any fingerprints from me because I had just spent the previous 3 weeks wet sanding a fiberglass project and I had sanded off my prints! It was a humorous and tense 30 minutes as they figured out what to do with me.

Having no prints did seem to help with touch things, though!

Of course, my biggest problem is that my fingers are usually also bandaged, caulked, or resined from normal work on the boat! I have a particular dislike of touch things because of bandages - I am often sporting one on index and/or thumb and having to use random fingers on both hands or my knuckles (if they aren't bandaged) to control things.

Mark

[Pelagic]

LOL Mark...... You have given me a new definition for 'crusty old sailor' )

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by colemj

Of course, my biggest problem is that my fingers are usually also bandaged, caulked, or resined from normal work on the boat! I have a particular dislike of touch things because of bandages - I am often sporting one on index and/or thumb and having to use random fingers on both hands or my knuckles (if they aren't bandaged) to control things.

Mark

Have you every thought about taking a course in tool usage? They offer some wonderful courses like:

powder puff mechanics
Hammer and screwdriver usage for dainty fingers
How to repair almost anything wihtout ruining your fingernal polish

[colemj]

If they offer "how to work in tight, blind spaces on partly stripped hardware with pointy and sharp things all around it" - now that is a course I need!

I also need a course on "how to over-ride your brain when it is telling you "it's OK to carefully cut that toward your hand - yes, I know you always cut yourself, but this time you are paying attention - forget what happened last time, that was a completely different situation - just do it slow and careful and nothing will slip - it is only a tiny little bit you need to cut off it, go ahead"…"

Mark