National Rail in the United Kingdom had planned to start operation of a nifty new computerized train control system on the Cambrian Coast Lines in Wales but had to delay the launch because of a problem familiar to evening west bound commuters on Interstate 66 in Virginia: sun glare.
The BBC reported that National Rail had completed 98 percent of the work to install the new-fangled European Rail Traffic Management System on that line, when it discovered sun glare made it well nigh impossible for train drivers to see the computer screens.
Part of the problem was that existing locomotives were not designed with computerized train control systems in mind, requiring a still undefined workaround, a Network Rail spokeswoman told the BBC.
All of which illustrates that sometimes a computer problem is an ergonomic problem.
Bob Brewin
Bob Brewin joined Government Executive in April 2007, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a journalist focusing on defense issues and technology. Bob covers the world of defense and information technology for Nextgov, and is the author of the “What’s Brewin” blog.
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