So here you can see the integrated helm/nav console, which can be referred to as simply the helm. Since much of the ship’s navigational routines would be computer run anyway it simplifies things by having the Helm/Nav Officer (or Helmsman) run it all. This doesn’t mean said officer basically just asks the computer to do everything. The officer is also trained to plot courses manually and is routinely tested for such proficiency. That said under normal conditions the officer inputs the desired destination, along with any specific variants involved, and the navigational computer instantly plots the optimum solution (which can be overridden at the CO’s discretion). The Helmsman then guides the ship along the plotted course.
It should be noted that starship helmsman along with shuttlecraft pilots usually input the general commands and the ship’s A.I. does the precision work. But again all pilots at whatever level are routinely tested for their proficiency at manual control.
One detail I tweaked were the small displays immediately above the control consoles. Someone’s suggestion prompted me to streamline the appearance of those areas. While it now looks like one long continuous display it could actually still be a number of individual displays behind a common covering to create the illusion of a single elongated display.
The bottom image shows a very close approximation of what the CO sees seated at the helm. Very little of the main viewscreen is obscured by the helm/nav console, the railings and the helmsman positioned left-of-centre. The CO also has a clear view of the ship’s astrogator as well as the command readout located above the astrogator. From this readout the CO can immediately read ship’s course, speed, shield strength and other information at a glance.
The only thing I can think of adding now is an intruder defense system. This system can be armed in the event the ship is boarded by hostiles. When activated the ship’s computer is already aware of everyone who belongs aboard ship. Anyone or anything not recognized, or has been specifically targeted, can be immediately be incapacitated should they manage entry to the Bridge. The intruder would be incapacitated by overhead phaser fire set to a stun setting. It should be noted that the IDF can also be set to kill or destroy but only by command authority override.
One thing not really addressed in TOS (and Trek in general) is that there would likely be cameras all over the ship. How else to explain (in universe) how we see visuals of crewmembers from viewpoints where there is obviously no camera in evidence. Back in the day they likely didn’t envision what we take for granted today—practically pinhole sized cameras in every smartphone and tablet. These sort of things could be practically anywhere and thus a visual of, for example, the helmsman could be transmitted to anywhere aboard ship if visual communication is called for. In extent than the ship’s record system could indeed record rather detailed visuals of ship’s operations and the crew. I think it goes without saying that such records would be highly restricted to very few authorized personnel and reviewed only under specific circumstances.
