On September 28, 2019, a Navy destroyer tragedy killed 10 sailors due to bad design that led to a fatal collision with a tanker. At the core of the disaster was a single checkbox on a touchscreen that caused confusion among the crew. The author, a civilian, pieces together the story based on internet research, highlighting the lack of blame towards designers in such cases. The article delves into the flawed UI design of the ship’s controls, the importance of human-centered design, and the inadequacy of existing standards in preventing such accidents. Surprisingly, the crew’s lack of understanding and the tragic outcome emphasize the critical role of design in preventing such disasters.
https://adrian3.com/blog/2019/2019-09-28-The-US-Navys-100-million-dollar-checkbox.php