3.1
"Home" screen: The program should
have a simple command (keystroke/icon) that returns the user directly
to a familiar "home" screen from any of the loading screens. This
allows a "lost" user (who may have got disoriented among various loading
screens) to quickly re-establish their orientation.
3.2
"Help" functions: The program
should have easily-accessed "help" functions such as designated function
keys, or an on-screen menu bar.
3.3
Default loading: A default loading
condition should reflect any special loading or operating requirements
imposed by the ship's stability booklet (such as locked-in ballast
requirements).
3.4
Input and output data screening: The
program should check data entered by the user for reasonableness in
order to screen out possible input errors, for example, a cargo tank
entry which exceeds the capacity of the tank. The program should not
reject the entry as there may be special loading scenarios where unusual
data must be entered, but it should clearly indicate to the user that
the entry is out of expected bounds. Similarly, the program should
alert the user if an output parameter such as "predicted GM" is out
of expected bounds.
3.5
Alerts: The system should alert
the user if an output indicates a critical, or possibly dangerous
situation. Alerts should, when possible, be augmented by audio signals.
It is recommended that the graphical presentation and audio signals
are different in case of critical events and user errors.
3.6
Extra loading entry lines: In
most cases, load entries will be of the fixed-location type where
LCGs, VCGs, etc., are pre-displayed and the user only needs to enter
a weight value. However, the program should include several extra
blank lines to allow additional non-fixed load entries where the user
can enter VCG, LCG, TCG, etc. Examples of non-fixed load entries might
be an unusual deck cargo, temporary ballast or damaged stability calculations
(where a flooded compartment could be entered as if it were a tank).
3.7
Print-outs: Each loading condition
print-out should automatically contain the name of the ship and the
date of print-out; user should be prompted to enter a title for the
condition as well. This information should be repeated on each page
of the print-out.