Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:54:46 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>,
        WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Odd events
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

At 12/22/2005 10:27 AM, dicconf wrote:
>On Thu, 22 Dec 2005, Mike B. wrote:
>
> > As far as what the alternatives there are to upgrading air traffic control
> > workers' equipment and work environment goes, there is at least one: use
> > the developments we've had in technology over the last 50 years.
>
>Uh...how does this differ from "upgrading"?

"Upgrade" generally means a newer, somewhat better, version of the same
thing you already have.  What I'm talking about is something completely
different.

The "upgrades" the FAA is talking about involve things like better radars,
faster, smaller and more reliable computers, computerized notes rather than
little slips of paper for ATC folks, and "e-mail" between controllers
rather than phone lines.  While these are improvements, they are just
refining the existing system, not replacing it with something better.

An "upgrade" is going from Win98 to Win2k.  I'm suggesting they go to Linux.
;-)

> > With proper use of modern technology we could improve efficiency and safety
> > and the lives of those working in ATC...but it will take money, planning,
> > some time, and, most importantly, the will to make a change from the
> > central-control model to a distributed system model.
>
>That's all it would take to end global warming, stop political corruption,
>reform the voting system...,

Nope.  Global warming is due to the "distributed" model of population
growth we've always had.  Too many people on one small planet, coupled with
the desire of all organisms to live beyond their means.

-- Mike B.