The Navy has laid down clear-cut guidelines for incorporating new
technology in the coming years. Windows NT Magazine has included the
Navy's principles here for readers who are interested in the Navy's approach.
Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT-21) is the
Navy's strategic technology plan. Its goal is to provide a philosophy not only
to guide deployment of information technology, but to encourage the
re-engineering of processes throughout the service. IT-21 consists of seven
principles:
1. If the boss doesn't use it, don't buy it. To ensure that
technology is adopted fully, it must have the support of those in charge. If
those in charge don't support, adopt, and actively use the technology, the staff
will not likely use the technology to its highest level of value.
2. Integrate tactical and nontactical applications. Maintaining separate systems for tactical and nontactical use is impractical and
expensive. The Navy had to deploy one system that supports both tactical
operations, such as sharing battle plans and reviewing intelligence, and
nontactical operations, such as logistics planning, personnel records, and
training. The goal is to use the ship to fight and to run the ship from one PC.
3. Stay common with industry. Matching the industry resources spent
on developing new hardware and software would be impossible from within the
military. Using widespread technology lowers the initial costs and the costs of
training and troubleshooting.
4. Drive applications to one personal computer. All
applications must run from one Windows-based PC. This single PC should access
legacy applications residing on mainframes to eliminate the need for multiple
devices at each person's workstation.
5. Use commercial off-the-shelf products wherever possible.
Off-the-shelf software is much cheaper to buy than custom, proprietary products.
You can complete most tasks with off-the-shelf products. The software will cost
less, and the time to deploy the software is reduced.
6. Seamless sea-to-shore transitions. Users of a system should
notice no difference when they are in port or at sea. For instance, while the
ship is in port, the network may connect to the world through a fiber optic
line. While the ship is at sea, the connection will be through satellite. In
either case, users should notice no difference in their procedures.
7. No stovepipes. Stovepipes are systems designed for communication
within one branch of the armed forces. These systems have led to a diverse and
incompatible set of protocols and procedures that waste money and hinder
communications between the services. Do not allow them.
IT-21 has also defined several standards for products to be used on ship.
The Navy developed the standards in accordance with the Department of
Defense Joint Technical Architecture and Defense Information Infrastructure
Common Operating Environment specification. Table A lists some of the standards.
