ABSTRACT
Reduced Crew Size Coupled with Increased Automation-This overarching trend, motivated by life cycle cost reductions, will likely continue, with more and more human functions replaced by automation. Instances are reflected in several of the trends listed below. Improved Software Tools-This is another overarching trend and will include significant advances in design, analysis and visualization in naval architecture, marine engineering and HF. Performance Predictions-Future research may be aimed at developing techniques to better understand the relationships among motion, fatigue, sleep loss and sopite syndrome, and be better able to predict the resulting drops in operator performance and personnel comfort (Brill 2003). Instrumentation and Controls-Future controls will likely feature advanced forms of human-computer interfaces, such as speech-based control in a noisy environment, and virtual reality. A bit further into the future, more exotic technologies may emerge from the realm of experimentation: a robust version of eye-gaze control, haptic (touch) displays and brainactuated control (Grier 2005, Henry 2005). Enhanced Interoperability-Based on past and ongoing research and workshops, interoperability issues will be addressed, enabling an increased flow of information among commercial and naval operators. Interoperability will help increase global situational awareness, communications and maritime security (Masakowski 2001b, Clark 2001). Standards and Regulations-Regulations will continue to evolve to keep pace with advances in technology, such as 70-knot (36 meters/second) ferries (Bonafoux 1999). Regulatory organizations will develop more detailed and measurable regulations for comfort and crew performance, and will train surveyors to ensure compliance. The use of simulation and physics-based tools (instead of parametrics) will increase.
