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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Thu Nov 04 2004 - 18:20:57 EST
Quoting Rick Morel <>:
> please don't assume that someone who buys electronic charting/tracking
> is a dufus, while assuming that someone who buys paper is a brilliant
> navigator.
REPLY
Good point.
You can lay some of th blame on the marketing hype which does promote e-
charting as being effortless and soooo easy anyone can do it.
This is the pitfall! A lot of people who would not otherwise even dream of
going there now get their confidence up and go where prudent mariners fear to
sail. <grin>
So in answer to why use paper charts; here is one opinion.
Because of how most people have learned things in the past they develop certain
techniques for retaining this information.
Looking at a chart spread out on a table has different sens to it compared to
looking at a much smaller computer screen.
The computer screen force you to focus on a small area.
Standing in front of a full size paper chart means you still percieve the
larger pictuer with your periphal vision and subconsciously absorb more
information than just the one part you eye bal is centered on.
This is a characteristic of the display technology used in each case.
Until we get widespread use of holographic volume display of navigational
situations you will continue to have these limitations.
Unfortunately most people have never bothered to think about exactly how they
learn and absorb information. They just do it by rote.
Situational awareness is not something that is taught in recreational boating
classes. It is familair to aircraft pilots taking advanced course or cockpit
workload management. In the commercial world BRM (bridge Resource management)
is beginning to be taught but is not mandatory.
Cheers
Arild
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