Laning was involved in the development of the U.S. naval
Combat Information Center (CIC) during World War II. The idea was taken "specifically, consciously, and directly" from the spaceship
Directrix in the
Lensman novels of
E. E. Smith, Ph.D., and influenced by the works of his friend, collaborator, and
Naval Academy classmate, fellow Missourian
Robert Heinlein. However, for bureaucratic reasons, the source of the idea was not disclosed. ==See also==