Spacecraft systems are likely to have a mix of controls.
As noted, touchscreens, reconfigurable displays, etc, are all very shiny, but ultimately there will be a hardwired set of physical controls somewhere. This may not, however, be the primary controls.
I'd suggest you'd get a mix of everything - voice control, push switchs, touch screens, Intellect/1 just spontaneously deciding to do so**.
We're told to assume that storage space on a computer is effectively unlimited for 'idle' software, and (at least by our standards) bandwidth for simple tasks probably is too, as a result, the ability to control virtually anything from any station on the ship (assuming you have the access privilleges) is fair game. For that matter, you could probably have the same operating software networked to some equivalent of an IPhone*.
Biometrics won't as noted, work in a sealed suit - but then the sealed suit could just as easily have biometrics of its own, giving some sort of RFID signal to the ship of "yes, this is dave inside this suit." And, as noted, a wrist tag, badge, bracelet, whatever, can provide a transmitted id code without needing an implant.
** Intellect/1 and Expert Artist (Actor)/3 - do you think that sliding doors in B5 and Crusade hiss open at appropriately dramatic moments by chance?
* Particle beam barrage? We've got an app for that....
As noted, touchscreens, reconfigurable displays, etc, are all very shiny, but ultimately there will be a hardwired set of physical controls somewhere. This may not, however, be the primary controls.
I'd suggest you'd get a mix of everything - voice control, push switchs, touch screens, Intellect/1 just spontaneously deciding to do so**.
We're told to assume that storage space on a computer is effectively unlimited for 'idle' software, and (at least by our standards) bandwidth for simple tasks probably is too, as a result, the ability to control virtually anything from any station on the ship (assuming you have the access privilleges) is fair game. For that matter, you could probably have the same operating software networked to some equivalent of an IPhone*.
Biometrics won't as noted, work in a sealed suit - but then the sealed suit could just as easily have biometrics of its own, giving some sort of RFID signal to the ship of "yes, this is dave inside this suit." And, as noted, a wrist tag, badge, bracelet, whatever, can provide a transmitted id code without needing an implant.
** Intellect/1 and Expert Artist (Actor)/3 - do you think that sliding doors in B5 and Crusade hiss open at appropriately dramatic moments by chance?
* Particle beam barrage? We've got an app for that....
