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Today’s entertainment electronics feed a user’s need for quality.
by Mark T. Masciarotte
photography by Van Dam Nordia Shipyards
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11/01/2005
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Creating user
interfaces that are both easy to use and quick remains an issue. Segall cautions
that “high ticket means high expectation.” A complaint frequently heard from
yacht owners—particularly those who dislike electronic gizmos—is that they
are frustrated by the remote controls for their entertainment systems. One such
owner threw a pair of costly Crestron units overboard in exasperation.
A touchscreen monitor at bedside controls all of the ambiance
elements, such as lights, as well as entertainment electronics on the sailing
yacht Helios, top. The Kaliedescape cinema interface, top right,
simplifies movie selection by showing DVD cover art. Meridian’s "black
boxes," lower right, complement décor. (Click image to enlarge)
“User
interfaces are getting easier,” observes Segall. “The target reaction time is
sub-second. If it takes a second or longer, a human wants to press a button. You
can have faster times with wired systems, but everyone wants wireless. We need
to teach crew that the equipment is not broken or slow.”
For small boats,
where space is always at a premium, simplicity is crucial. Tim Alls is the
president of Aleutian Yachts, based in Tacoma, Washington. Then not building
husky, bluewater trawler yachts, Alls, who once worked in the high-end A/V
business, develops electronic controls for his company’s vessels. Among the
latest is one that simplifies command of the entertainment system, the Aleutian
Media Center. It runs with Microsoft’s XP Media Center software and uses
off-the-shelf components. Alls has written code that allows the system to work
on standard touch-screen monitors, and small standalone PCs that he calls
“bricks.” “People love its simplicity. The support is worldwide. It allows you
to get around the differences in video formats. Of course, the downside of this
system,” he says with a grin, “is that it’s Microsoft-based, so at some point,
it will have to be rebooted.”
Tony Fleming’s 55- to 75-foot boats have even
less A/V space, which is why he has opted for wireless video. Fleming’s choice
is a new, water-resistant, flat-panel Sony video display that can be put
anywhere, without cable to the entertainment system. The Location Free
sets—which use touch screens—receive their signal from a remote, wireless
transmitter that is similar, in principle, to ones used for Internet Wi-Fi. The
transmitter, with Sony’s new “firmware” (instructions), is less likely to be
interrupted by signals from other electronic equipment. Antenna inputs, DVD
players and VCRs can be connected to the transmitter. Sharp Electronics also
offers a wireless version of its well-known Aquos line.
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