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There's also a little confidence imparted by a smooth, modern UI. While super dependable, proven, spacecraft, the current Soyuz ferries are closer to U-boats i
by imglorp 11y ago
There's also a little confidence imparted by a smooth, modern UI.
While super dependable, proven, spacecraft, the current Soyuz ferries are closer to U-boats inside: purely functional, clunky, and claustrophobic with exposed plumbing, wiring, and dated avionics.
- soperj 11y agoThe only thing I see when I see a macbook is "impossible to maintain or adjust".
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoA part of me is anxious that all this touch screen stuff is less reliable than old fashioned controls and we'll have a F-35-like problem with SpaceX's more progressive ideas: too much new stuff all at once that's not battle tested meaning delays, issues, workarounds, risk, etc. I like to think there's a middle-ground between the Space Shuttle's cockpit and the Dragon design. Falling back to old school switches and displays should be an option I suppose.
- kybernetikos 11y agoI heard a rumor that the touch screens are all on something like velcro, and can quickly be removed and old-school mechanical switches are underneath. No idea if it's true, but I guess that's the sort of middle ground you're talking about?
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoYeah, I'm assuming the wall panels come off or something and those touchscreens are just a nice UI to a more mechanical system. I just can't imagine relying on touchscreens for space travel.
- TrevorJ 11y agoSwitches also have another advantage: you can use them in limited visibility situations. Also, good luck hitting the right spot on a touch screen during ANY kind of high-G situation. Terrible idea.
- rmah 11y agoYou want exposed plumbing and wiring. That makes them easily accessible, easier to see what's broken and easier to fix. This is why military ships do not hide plumbing and wiring behind wall panels.
- imglorp 11y agoYeah I guess I should have qualified that. Nontechnical, paying passengers are easily wowed by glass cockpits and hidden workings. They're also wowed by a flashy web UI without knowing what's inside.
- TrevorJ 11y agoI'm very skeptical of glass cockpits in general, and I suspect anyone who's used an older android device, or any touch screen when your hands are moist/in gloves / cold would be as well.