Request for larger fonts, EMS layout

[vlittle]

i would like the capability of increasing font size independently of widget size on the EMS layouts.
It would be nice to have this for the map page as well. Presbyopia is winning the battle!

Is there a hack to do this, or can it be put on the list for future revs?  The SkyView system is jam packed with features, but a bit of refinement on things like this would be helpful.

By the way, the new boot-up procedure is much slicker in version 10, thanks.

Vern.

 

[vlittle]

By the way, see figure 7 in this document. I would like Dynon to embrace this type of graphical representation of engine data.

http://www.marinetech.org/files/marine/files/Curriculum/IROV/Module13/gruhnhmidesignreviewed-110722135448-phpapp02.pdf

Vern

 

[Bill_H]

I am the author of The High Performance HMI Handbook that Paul G refers to in his article. There is not a lot of difference between the Star Trek sick bay indicators and the existing Dynon indicators. What I want is in THIS thread: http://dynonavionics.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1397348791

Bill H.

 

[mmarien]

Those proposing the 5% screen with strictly numbers should read the text to the right of Figure 7 in the document Vern posted.

 

[Bill_H]

The referred-to High Performance HMI Handbook (coming out soon in its Second Edition!) is FULL of reasons why analog is better than just numbers. I know, I wrote them! But refinery, power plant, chemical plant, etc. control room practices are different, in that an operator may have 6 to 8 or more physical screens at their disposal. These venues are the subject of the book, not the cockpit.

The 5% EMS screen is for a specific reason. A single screen Skyview, like many of us have, in CRUISE, better suits the pilot with a larger view of the PFD and map, than with the 20% EMS screen. If I had a dual screen Skyview I would leave the 20% one open all the time (and do now on my single screen, begrudgingly!)

Now, Even the current 40% size PFD and MAP are larger than often found in the add-on certified world! But we always want more screen and this is an easy and beneficial thing to do to enhance an already great product.

On my own 20% EMS layout I have chosen all indications to be vertical indicators, nicely lined up, for an easy scan.

One thing that would be better in the Dynon depictions is that the red and yellow ranges shown on the analog bars should be a subdued yellow and red, with the BRIGHT yellow and read only being used when the alarmed condition is actually in effect. That reinforces that seeing any bright Yellow and Red on the EMS screen is a SERIOUS CONDITION that needs your attention.

 

[vlittle]

One thing that would be better in the Dynon depictions is that the red and yellow ranges shown on the analog  bars should be a subdued yellow and red, with the BRIGHT yellow and read only being used when the alarmed condition is actually in effect. That reinforces that seeing any bright Yellow and Red on the EMS screen is a SERIOUS CONDITION that needs your attention. 

Totally agree. I also like the triangular indexer because the thin white line is easily washed out by the bright colours. Your background in this sure is useful, I hope we can convince Dynon to improve the human factors.

I have set up my screen to emulate as best I can the Figure 7 display, but the devil is in the details. Sometimes a pretty display does not convey the important information that well. Oddly, the older Dynon EMS displays seem much easier to read and interpret.

I also agree that in cruise, not much of this matters and with properly programmed alarms, the system can do the hard work. When something starts to go wrong, however, the human factors really matter.

One point I will continue to stress... Refinement of existing features is often better than more features. Look at microwave ovens... How many features do you ever use other than power level and cook time?

Vern

 

[mmarien]

I'm thinking that a lot of thought went into both the aesthetics and human interface factors on the Skyview. Computers and more recently smart phones didn't gravitate to graphical user interfaces to confuse the user. I can understand grouping and lining up some items (CHT/EGT), but fail to see what purpose lining up say volts with oil pressure. There is no relationship between the two. Grouping oil temp and pressure or volts and amps does make makes sense to me.

As far as highlighting gauges that reach a caution level can you tell me with a quick glance which gauge that might be on the screen shot below.

I'm thinking that one is hard to miss even if the numbers (celcius) don't make sense for a lot of people. How about this one. Am I going to make the destination with a 30 minute reserve?

Looks a little dicey to me - and the gauges display that message. It's difficult to miss that the fuel gauges are showing low fuel. A simple red number (even blinking or bright red) would be more annoying but convey less information.

You guys can press for a 5% screen if you want, but I think it's a huge step backwards as far as usability. And all for minimal gains on already comfortable PDF and MAP screens. As far as presbyopia, I solved that problem with a pair of sunglasses with reading glass lens on the bottom. $30 at Walmart vs a few hundred thousand to redesign the screen layout for larger numbers. Not a hard decision for anyone.

 

[cmgolden]

One thing that would be better in the Dynon depictions is that the red and yellow ranges shown on the analog  bars should be a subdued yellow and red, with the BRIGHT yellow and read only being used when the alarmed condition is actually in effect. That reinforces that seeing any bright Yellow and Red on the EMS screen is a SERIOUS CONDITION that needs your attention. 

+1 
I wholeheartedly agree.  Presently, it seems there is lots of yellow and red on the EMS screen in NORMAL flight conditions.  It makes voice warnings critical.  Muting the yellow and red under normal conditions would be a much better display.

 

[vlittle]

One thing that would be better in the Dynon depictions is that the red and yellow ranges shown on the analog  bars should be a subdued yellow and red, with the BRIGHT yellow and read only being used when the alarmed condition is actually in effect. That reinforces that seeing any bright Yellow and Red on the EMS screen is a SERIOUS CONDITION that needs your attention. 

Totally agree. I also like the triangular indexer because the thin white line is easily washed out by the bright colours. Your background in this sure is useful, I hope we can convince Dynon to improve the human factors.

I have set up my screen to emulate as best I can the Figure 7 display, but the devil is in the details. Sometimes a pretty display does not convey the important information that well.  Oddly, the older Dynon EMS displays seem much easier to read and interpret.

I also agree that in cruise, not much of this matters and with properly programmed alarms, the system can do the hard work.  When something starts to go wrong, however, the human factors really matter.

One point I will continue to stress... Refinement of existing features is often better than more features.  Look at microwave ovens... How many features do you ever use other than power level and cook time?

Vern

I have photoshopped an example of what I am talking about with the subdued colors except for alarmed states.  Rather than eye cacaphony, I eliminate useless colors in the MAP and RPM indicators and subdued the colors in non-alarmed indicators.  Only alarmed indicators are full brightness, naturally drawing the eye.

Additionally, I've shown triangular indicators that are vastly superior to the thin white lines that are barely visible on a busy display.

I tried to line up the critical engine parameters in a 'Star Trek' type display so that it's an easy glance to see if everything is nominal.  The limitations of my Photoshop capability should not be judged here.

Vern

 

[cmgolden]

Vern,
The subdued colors are a big improvement to making sure attention is properly drawn when it should be.  Nice.  I also like the triangles.  (Maybe an option between lines and triangles, based on user preference?)

What is Dynon's view on the subject?

 

[Kinnerhatz]

Getting back to the original poster's comment on EMS screen font size, I agree totally. The font size on the EMS screen of the SV-D700 is way too small. Several friends in their 20's with goods eyes all commented on the small size. I "upgraded" from the D180 and I must say that the SV-D700 is a big step down in readability. The 3D effect of the range graphics hurts readability, but it is the font size that really is bad. I wish there was an option to revert to the legacy D180 display which has a font size 2 or 3 times larger.