Best practice: consider chartplotter (MFD) environmental conditions

• Rain, sea spray, condensation, or sweat may make the chartplotter (MFD) slippery or difficult to read, and could result in unintentional commands.

• Excessive vibration or sudden motion (caused by other equipment, or a high sea state) may prevent users from interacting with the chartplotter (MFD) using precise actions.

• Direct sunlight may make it difficult to read and interact with the display.

• In low temperatures, users may need to wear gloves, impacting the usability of the touchscreen.

To facilitate the safe and effective use of a touchscreen display in a variety of conditions:

• Where possible, provide chartplotters (MFDs) with physical protection from the environment.

• Ensure that soft-buttons and associated icons and text are sufficiently large, and have adequate contrast.

• Consider further distinguishing between important soft-buttons by using different button shapes, and contrasts.

• Allow sufficient space between active parts of the touchscreen (for example, between individual soft-buttons), to reduce the likelihood that users will touch a button inadvertently.

• Remember that certain types of control may be difficult to use in some conditions. For example, don’t use a slider control that requires a precise swiping action as the only means to control a critical system.

• Implement a “long press” feature to protect all buttons controlling important systems or equipment. For example, enforce a three-second press before a soft-button signals that AC shore-power is to be connected or disconnected from the vessel’s electrical system.

  Note Where rapid operation or power-down of equipment may be required in an emergency, don’t enforce a “long press”. Also consider providing a physical switch in addition to soft buttons on a chartplotter (MFD) (see Best practice: when to provide physical switches).