Question Multiplayer Star-Trek with LCARS panels

[EndeavourCmdr]

What I am proposing is not a 100% accurate LCARS, but an adequate and usable LCARs representations with a moderate learning curve. Traditional ST-TNG LCARS WERE designed to simply "look complicated and futuristic". I'll give you that. But there is some merit to the LCARs design. It's actually pretty clean, and functional. I've used a few LCARS simulations before, and it's no more difficult to learn that first learning a new Operating System. That's what LCARS is after all, an OS.

Should I take these comments to mean that there is NOT enough interest in a simulated LCARS in Orbiter? Is it the common opinion that LCARS is too "clunky" to be useful? Actually I can see where LCARS would be better than many current options. LCARS controls double as BOTH switches / dials / buttons as well as displays. Aside from push buttons that change their indication, like on the 747 overhead for example, I don't know too many other controls that work as both a control and a display. LCARS does this.

 

[Urwumpe]

What does all that Russian mean? In all those boxes?

Lots of stuff :lol: The top section shows the general status information, like time, fuel reserve (second row, left box, 9300 means 930.0 kg fuel), cabin pressure (PCA in mm Hg) and power supply status (Bus load in Amperes).

the top image shows the Soyuz TMA propulsion system (page 2 of 31), above the vertical scales you have indicators for thruster status (on/off) for each group of thrusters (second from the right means "main engine on"), below the scales you have a section of the command/indicator matrix, a concept of all Russian spacecraft. It signals status of certain systems and valves, and permits toggling or activating systems. The border of each box indicates how the command/indicator behaves, saying things like "This indicator does not represent actual system state, only that command was issued")

The lower image shows the map (IHK is the name of the old electro-mechanic globe instruments on russian spacecraft), the two bold lines and arrow on the orbit ground track with "T" indicate the orbital night. H indicates orbital altitude in km.

 

[Face]

Should I take these comments to mean that there is NOT enough interest in a simulated LCARS in Orbiter? Is it the common opinion that LCARS is too "clunky" to be useful? Actually I can see where LCARS would be better than many current options. LCARS controls double as BOTH switches / dials / buttons as well as displays. Aside from push buttons that change their indication, like on the 747 overhead for example, I don't know too many other controls that work as both a control and a display. LCARS does this.

You sound like you are defending a product here. There is no need for that. If you want to make LCARS-style interfaces for Orbiter, go ahead and do it.

Just don't expect much fanboy-hype here, because Orbiter is all about simulation. It is only logical that you get engineer-like responses to the usability of LCARS from O-F members.

You won't be able to attract many followers only by outlining ideas, it is better to have a working prototype to get folks interested. That's why I've suggested doing the interface as MFD first. Draw you design, make it work.

Good luck with your project,
Face

 

[garyw]

I agree with Face here. It's my opinion that an LCARS interface is too cluttered to work for an MFD style screen. However, I'd still like to see a proof of concept because you never know.

 

[Cras]

garyw, that is a pic of an B737 flightdeck, not an Airbus

 

[EndeavourCmdr]

..You sound like you are defending a product here. There is no need for that...

Naww, I was just trying to offer an alternative viewpoint. Doesn't really matter to me if I make it or not. I was already working on something similar, just not for Orbiter, so I figured I'd see if there was interest in it in Orbiter.

If there is, I'll go ahead and port it, but if not, I'll just continue developing it for my own personal use outside of Orbiter as a "proof-of-concept". Either way, I'm coding, so I'm happy =)

 

[Face]

I'll just continue developing it for my own personal use outside of Orbiter as a "proof-of-concept". Either way, I'm coding, so I'm happy =)

That's nice to hear . If you have your POC ready, you can then show it as demonstration of what you have in mind for Orbiter.

 

[Hielor]

Actually I can see where LCARS would be better than many current options. LCARS controls double as BOTH switches / dials / buttons as well as displays. Aside from push buttons that change their indication, like on the 747 overhead for example, I don't know too many other controls that work as both a control and a display. LCARS does this.

Displays that are also controls (touchscreens) are not a good idea in aviation or starship design. In a plane, you hit a bump and your hand flies across the screen and touches something other than what you meant to. This is why the latest touchscreen offering from Garmin has raised ridges on three sides, so you can steady your hand with some fingers while using the others.

A large, flat expanse of glass offers nothing in the way of things to hold onto to steady your hand, so in the case of Star Trek when you're under fire and bouncing around you'll be randomly pushing all the wrong controls.

 

[garyw]

Boeing have introduced a single touchscreen display. It's called the 'EFB' Electronic flight bag and it's the one touch screen that doesn't interact with aircraft systems - if you bump it then it doesn't matter.

 

[Ghostrider]

the typical LCARS displays from the TNG franchise is not done for humans to work with

Of course it's not made for humans, they have Data to do all the real work. The rest of the crew romps around the holodeck, fails to get a girlfriend and drinks tea, Earl Grey, hot.:lol:

 

[Hielor]

Boeing have introduced a single touchscreen display. It's called the 'EFB' Electronic flight bag and it's the one touch screen that doesn't interact with aircraft systems - if you bump it then it doesn't matter.

What does the touch get used for there--just panning/zooming? That certainly has quite a few buttons around the edge for something that's a touchscreen

 

[garyw]

Mostly for selection of SID's/STARS. Touch the one you want to put a green tick in the box.

It is a touchscreen but not much of a touchscreen. Most of the options are via the buttons on the sides. Some pilots are using ipads as EFB's these days.

 

[Ragtag]

So today I was doing a little coding on some LCARS panels, just to help me learn a few new things in C#. That got me thinking about Orbiter of course, and now I'd like to ask a question.

I see a lot of addons out now involving Star Trek. Orbiter also has the ability for external programs to interface with its API. Would anyone be interested in an addon which lets mutiple players share control of an Orbiter vessel, via LCARS conn stations like in Star Trek TNG and Voyager?

Google Atemis Bridge Simulator. It's a space combat game that allows a crew with multiple stations, up to 6, to fly a ship and even do battle with other crews manning other ship consoles. It's a great party game and really shows the difficulty of team play. The demo allows the use of three stations and limited missions.

Disclaimer
I have nothing to do with this program or the author but I do own the full version and have had fun playing it.

 

[EndeavourCmdr]

..Google Atemis Bridge Simulator...

lready discovered it a looong time ago =) I wanted to see something like this for Orbiter.

 

[Urwumpe]

lready discovered it a looong time ago =) I wanted to see something like this for Orbiter.

Sure a nice idea, I like it. I just think that you will have a lot of work there.