Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] The last dance by David Bartsch

[Jon Wallace <jonw@psubs.org>]

I think that can be explained rather easily as "the human experience".  
Football can be viewed on TV with far better views of the action and 
even replay, yet people still pay lots of money to go to the games in 
person.  You can find all kinds of photos and video of the Grand Canyon 
on the internet, yet people still spend thousands of dollars to go see 
it in person.  In a submarine, you are already one level removed from 
the environment by having a steel shell separating you from the water.  
Removing all viewports and relying on cameras moves you back another 
level to the point that you might be justified in questioning the 
rationale for building a sub in the first place since you can just watch 
underwater footage on Discovery, National Geographic, etc.

However, you make a good point about relative simplicity of cameras 
compared to viewports.  Perhaps a compromise would be one main viewport 
(conning tower dome) and all other forward/side/reverse viewing by 
camera.  More viewports could be added later if they were desired.

Jon



Shawn Hinzey wrote:
> My opinion of the optical technology is that is has far greater value 
> in eliminating the need for expensive acrylic windows or spheres.  I 
> sometimes wonder why people spend so much time trying to figure out 
> how to install portholes when it's WAY easier and you get way more 
> information from a standalone external camera system.  Everything from 
> FLIR, optical, radar, etc. can be viewed.  Not to mention increased 
> visibility in dark or obscured waters.
>  
> Shawn




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