Do you know what a MFD is?

[doris]

Major ....... Disaster?

Absolutely!!!!

 

[laika]

From a techy perspective, and I admit it's no excuse , there is a significant difference between a plotter and an MFD

Is there a Big Dictionary of Technical Terms where that is defined?

If there was such a dictionary, all the hip linguists these days are down with the idea that language is defined by its use. 40+% of people here claim not understand the term "MFD". A further chunk don't *like* the term and some of the others can't decide on whether the "D" is "Device" or "Display". Raymarine favour the latter. If so it seems a slightly odd argument that the ability to control something makes a thing a "Multifunction Display".

Per an earlier post by Pete, there's no requirement for something to cease being called what it's always been called when additional functionality is added: We still call our pocket computers "'phones" even though "dialling" people is only one of the things we do with them. Moreover, there was no major function step between Raymarine's C/E-"Classic" series and the later "Wide"s when they introduced the term "MFD".

 

[jimbaerselman]

Display's could be mechanical, and not multifuctional (old clocks . . . charts). Screens are a sub-set of displays, awaiting an input, necessarily multi-functional. But you may choose to display only one function.

Important in a boat cockpit is visibility. Is the screen is back-lit (mobile, pad), front lit (kindle) or both? Both would be multifunctional - or should it be multivisual?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

From an avionics perspective when glass cockpits were introduced we initially had two displays known as PFD (primary flight display) and ND (Navigation display) they had distinct purpose although they could be swapped in case of failure. This was known as an EFIS (electronic flight instrument system).
These days glass cockpits have moved on a bit. Now all the aircrafts systems and communications are also managed through the displays. We still have a PFD but it also includes the navigation display information from yesteryear. The other displays are MFDs which can be configured to show Map, Synoptic or other functions including maintenance. This type of system is correctly called an EDS (electronic display system) rather than the more limited EFIS. The units themselves are referred to as Display Units for maintenance purposes.

The same is true of boat plotters. If it is just a plotter then it's a plotter but if it can be used for other functions then it is de-facto a multi function display.

Device doesn't come into it. Someone just made that up because they didn't know what the d stood for.

 

[prv]

If it is just a plotter then it's a plotter but if it can be used for other functions then it is de-facto a multi function display.

But we will still call it a plotter.

Pete

 

[snooks]

But we will still call it a plotter.

Pete

I call mine Gary (it's a Garmin)

 

[prv]

I call mine Gary (it's a Garmin)

Our autopilot is called George (I believe it's an RAF thing), but no other parts of the boat have names.

Pete

 

[snowleopard]

My car has a multi function display which is labelled 'MFD'. In a boating context I wouldn't expect it to mean the same.

 

[Bru]

But we will still call it a plotter.

You might, the industry doesn't. Call it what you feel comfortable and happy with, it harms no-one but like I said, and it doesn't require a dictionary it just is, the distinction is clear and clearly understood from a technical perspective

(And as Buck has pointed out, it's wider than just the marine industry)

 

[Hydrozoan]

Our autopilot is called George (I believe it's an RAF thing), but no other parts of the boat have names.

Pete

So is ours, but I didn't know why (Raymond would be more logical).

 

[jbweston]

Our autopilot is called George (I believe it's an RAF thing), but no other parts of the boat have names.

Pete

Yep, that's the traditional name for aircraft autopilots.

My boat autopilot is calle Keira, after Keira Knightley, who was Cpt Jack Sparrow's on-off love interest and helper in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and who seems quite an attractive crew member to have on the helm.

My regular crew Barry suggested that our Raymarine plotter (MFD !) should be called Samantha, after the fictional woman on I'm Sorry I haven't A Clue because it/she keeps the score on our various voyages just like Samantha does on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (when she's not involved in risque extra-employment activities).

Keira has caught on but Samantha hasn't.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Our autopilot is called George (I believe it's an RAF thing),

I have Electric George, Wind George and Boy George.

 

[LittleSister]

I have a muli-function-display behind the cockpit. It indicates the wind direction and strength, the nation of registry of the boat, and that the owner has too refined taste to be seen with a St. George flag or Jolly Roger!

 

[DJE]

Our autopilot is called George (I believe it's an RAF thing), but no other parts of the boat have names.

Pete

Members of SWMBO's family called theirs Pontius.

 

[RAI]

I have a muli-function-display behind the cockpit. It indicates the wind direction and strength, the nation of registry of the boat, and that the owner has too refined taste to be seen with a St. George flag or Jolly Roger!

Getting down to basics eh? Next question: Can flashing be regarded as a multi-function display?

 

[NickRobinson]

Medically Fit for Discharge, according to Hump on R4 this morning discussing bed blocking. Any takers? :encouragement:

 

[agurney]

This is true, but if I were to write
Forward of the helm there's space for a 8in MFD

Instead of what I currently write which is:
Forward of the helm there's space for a 8in multifunction display

The first, I feel, is open to misinterpretation, the second takes up more space but isn't. I try to make things clear without "dumbing down", but I also don't want my witterings to become full of TLA that 1/3 of people (currently), don't understand :0)

The first time you use an unfamiliar abbreviation or acronym, spell out the complete definition and
follow it with the acronym in parentheses. In all subsequent references to the term, use the acronym
only.

So, in your example, if you only use the term once then use "multifunction display"; if you expect to refer to it more than once then " multifunction display (MFD)" .. and subsequently just use MFD.

It's standard practice for technical documentation.