The US Navy will replace its touchscreen controls with mechanical ones on its destroyers

Living proof that technology on a 9800 ton moving platform isn't all it's cracked up to be. A fact to which I can attest. Back in the 70's when I went aboard HMCS Provider one of my first watches at sea was as the Quarter Master in charge of helmsmen. The helm was on the bridge and unlike destroyers the helmsman got to sit at the console and drive. Well when I sat down next to the console to start my watch I noticed this very large switch and dial in the middle of the helm stand. I asked the young LS what about it and was informed that it was the automatic pilot which, once engaged would maintain a course and heading without the need for the helmsman to steer the ship. Well, to say this piqued my interest would be an understatement. So given we were in the middle of the Pacific I asked the OOW if I could engage it to see how it worked. He gave me permission and then a heading to bring the ship around to that matched our course. We engaged this devil from hell and set the sea state based on the OOW's estimation.

I then sat back to watch. Well, it was fine for the first couple of minutes and kept us on course with no issues but, as the head of the ship moved ever so imperceptibly it kept correcting itself. So, after 15 minutes of the automatic pilot correcting the ships head, we were on course but, rocking like a cork in a hurricane which led to a quick call from the CO's sea cabin asking us "what the fuck are you doing up there". We quickly disengaged the automatic pilot and resumed manual control of the helm.

Well that ended my attempt at using technology to drive a ship pretty quickly and from then on I never let any of the helmsmen on my watch use it again. So, the lesson here is, that just because it's new and technologically advanced doesn't mean it's safer or more effective than the old school mechanical methods.

Any new technology has it's learning curve.



Looks like it wasn't the fault of the tech, but those who didn't use it properly. Going back to manual controls means it can't be used improperly, but also means a single point of failure.

As long as you have humans involved, technology isn't fool proof. So, whether the technology fails because of bad design inherent glitches or the ghost in the machine it's the same result as when it fails because of the humans error and the result is the same.

Technology is fabulous when it works and the people understand it but on a warship there should always be a mechanical human controlled backup especially in a combat situation where the single disruption of the technology could mean the ships survival.

It seems to me that some of the techy stuff we develop to make some tasks seem easier often seems to create a complication we didn't have before.

It seems to me that some of the techy stuff we develop to make some tasks seem easier often seems to create a complication we didn't have before.

Definitely. It's nice to have from a manning perspective because it reduces the size of crew required to operate a modern warship but it still doesn't negate the fact that without backups systems that can be manually operated it's still a crapshoot.

Our warships that were built in the 50's and 60's were very technology limited but what they lacked for in that field they made up for in logic. They'd been designed from our WWII experiences so, for example we had 3 helm positions. The wheelhouse, the tiller flats and the Emergency Conning Position. A fact which allowed the ship to almost always be conned no matter the battle damage.

Now don't get me wrong I think technology is wonderful but, it has to be tempered with a healthy dose of common sense and that's what we're not seeing in today's technoratic navies.

It seems to me that some of the techy stuff we develop to make some tasks seem easier often seems to create a complication we didn't have before.Welcome the post-Industrial Revolution. Seems to me it's a lot more than just some and not just techy stuff.

Look at modern medicine. You won't find many that would argue it's a bad idea for people to live longer healthier lives, to cure diseases, prevent illnesses, etc etc. But there's definitely been a down side to it.

It seems to me that some of the techy stuff we develop to make some tasks seem easier often seems to create a complication we didn't have before.

One of the biggest errors of modern time has been the giant touchscreens in Teslas. Everything is controlled through it, which makes building the car faster and cheaper. And it's pretty cool.

But its extremely distracting for the driver, who has to fumble through all sorts of menus to turn on the heat. Some things just need to have manual control.

I got excited for a second.

That 3rd line will have to go...