I'm not criticising it, I'm just saying I'm errr... intrigued. The Compass, to the right of the radar on the control panel, that I assume still indicates the direction to the station... is it me, or does it look a little out of place. I mean, yes, it is quite literally iconic, but it almost looks as if everything else has been polished and glossed, but the Compass has almost been surgically removed from the BBC version, and grafted into place - which is all fine, but I just wondered if there was a conscious decison to leave it (almost) untouched, or if that's just the way its ended up. I'm leaning towards the former, but what do I know?
That compass, design classic or something else?
- Thread starter Angus
- Start date
It could be prettied up but I would personally be strongly against any diversification of function.
It's a simple device and it works perfectly.
But it could look better.
Although I do also enjoy seeing a bit of my BBC Micro in ED.
It's a simple device and it works perfectly.
But it could look better.
Although I do also enjoy seeing a bit of my BBC Micro in ED.
Yeah, it could look better.
My immediate thought as well when reading the OP. Cosmetic change yes, functional change no. The genius is in its simplicity; critical information that occupies the smallest possible area of screen real estate.
...
Although I do also enjoy seeing a bit of my BBC Micro in ED.
I also think there's enough room in the cockpit for a Raspberry Pi, given recent events... :smilie:
Wellll....
Yeah, it works and there is an update coming to it as well (E3 footage shows this)... but if I am being totally honest, I would personally prefer an updated look to it.
you could do 3d ball with positional markers on it and it rolls as you pitch and yaw etc, so very much like now but just a tad flashier... i am sure there are better ideas though.
Don't get me wrong, it totally works as is, but I agree with the OP that it looks a little out of place in comparison to the flashier other elements.
Yeah, it works and there is an update coming to it as well (E3 footage shows this)... but if I am being totally honest, I would personally prefer an updated look to it.
you could do 3d ball with positional markers on it and it rolls as you pitch and yaw etc, so very much like now but just a tad flashier... i am sure there are better ideas though.
Don't get me wrong, it totally works as is, but I agree with the OP that it looks a little out of place in comparison to the flashier other elements.
It does look a little out of place. Maybe som kind of indicator near the crosshair? Just nok a big 3d arrow. Maybe a quiet < type thing.
Philip Coutts
Volunteer Moderator
It's a classic, no doubt about that. It does look decidedly "low-tech" when compared to the rest of the cockpit. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it's placeholder until they can introduce something with a bit more style.
Philip Coutts
Volunteer Moderator
You'll be asking for it to be jewel encrusted before too long....
Well, now you mention it, us Imperials do like to travel in style....
Perhaps it could be combined with the bobble-head... perhaps it could point a bobbly arm in the right direction?
(ducks)
(ducks)
Simple "NO". It's best element of cockpit interface, i can evaluate situation by it in mere ms. No. No. No. It's simple design is it's strenth.
Why does it have to be tweaked? Why can't it be left as it is?
It's OK to change things if there is a need and a better way. Things start going wrong when you change things just for the sake of it *cough*facebook*cough*
In the E3 video it looked like the compass pointer had been changed, it was still a solid 'block' when heading onwards the selected nav point but heading away it was two small vertical lines, either that or it's my eyes !
For the little it's worth I am in the 'it's a classic throwback and works just fine as it is'
For the little it's worth I am in the 'it's a classic throwback and works just fine as it is'
I think it is great. Simple and retro. A lot of modern aircraft "glass cockpit" computer displays still need the trusty old analogue instruments as a backup precaution. I see the compass as being similar to that.