Microcomputer requirements in the operational Navy

The microcomputer seems destined to play an ever increasing role in today’s operational Navy. It promises solutions to problems ranging from inventory control to tactical decision making. With that promise, however, comes an inevitable array of new problems and questions to be solved. The Navy constantly must evaluate systems on the basis of the systems’ ability to produce immediate gains. Design characteristics most important in the choice of systems include application software, equipment reliability and availability, software maintainability, ease of use, and integrated approach. The Navy’s demand for more properly human-engineered systems far exceeds that of industry in general. Until designers can deliver such systems, the influx of microcomputers into the operational Navy will continue to be thought of as an unnecessary proliferation.