PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE 103 



flexible and useful for the next few years. They will be supple- 

 mented by deep-towed semiautomatic sensory and work-perform- 

 ing systems. As task £ireas become better defined, we can expect 

 full computer-commanded automation to perform a greater per- 

 centage of the work functions. This implies a broad spectrum 

 of research— both in the basic problems specific to the oceans 

 and the integration of techniques from other areas of science 

 (computer, etc.) to the ocean environment. 



In order to insure timely progress in the programs discussed 

 in this report, and generally to respond to those needs of the 

 Navy, the Federal Government, and the Nation that can properly 

 be met by naval ocean science, a nimiber of concerns and re- 

 sponsibilities must be addressed. The Navy must be aware of 

 its immediate technical needs in this area and of the probable 

 requirements to be faced for many years to come. To this end, 

 it will be necessary to develop resources in manpower, facilities, 

 ships, and budgetary support. This development requires long- 

 term planning of research programs, the identification and 

 development of talent for a wide variety of responsibilities, 

 and repeated review of scientific and technological progress 

 within the program and on the national and international 

 scenes. 



A prime responsibility is suitable and timely interaction 

 with other technical and operational groups within the Navy 

 to ensure their awareness of the influence of the oceanic en- 

 vironment on their programs. 



The encouragement of interaction with other ocean-science 

 communities is important. Cooperative research projects should 

 be conducted, and new findings should be critically examined. 

 This activity should be extended beyond oceanography in its 

 broadest definition to ensure that oceanography benefits from 

 scientific and technological progress in general. The Navy must 

 also play its proper role by furnishing to the Federal Government 

 and to the public at large such information about this program 



