Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ptsfa!ames!ll-xn!kathy
From: kathy@ll-xn.UUCP
Newsgroups: talk.bizarre,comp.misc
Subject: Re: What the world needs now
Message-ID: <557@xn.LL.MIT.EDU>
Date: Wed, 3-Jun-87 16:21:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: xn.557
Posted: Wed Jun  3 16:21:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Jun-87 04:04:38 EDT
References: <12067@topaz.rutgers.edu> <408@rlvd.UUCP>
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Lines: 27
Keywords: Paranoid computers
Xref: utgpu talk.bizarre:1976 comp.misc:594

In article <408@rlvd.UUCP>, nbc@rlvd.UUCP (Neil Calton) writes:
> 
> Of course this computer should also be impossible to turn off, so that when
> it 'decides' to launch a missile attack or 'instructs' all the robots in a
> factory to turn homicidal, everyone just stands around goggled-eyed, panics
> or tries to sound convincing when they have to explain exactly why they
> cannot hit the off-switch. Then it really would be like in the movies.
> 

	We have nearly succeeded in reaching this level of functionality.  The
AT&T 3B series of Unix machines have NO power switch.  The shutdown mechanisms
are all software-controlled.  There is a "on/off" switch on the side of the 
machine, but all it does is invoke the software.  The only way to force it down
if the software hangs (and it does occasionally) is to go over to the wall
outlet and pull the plug.  Granted, the idea of using one of these to control
anything real is pretty silly, but if you apply this approach to larger 
machines, then make the power connection impossible to get at, voila: instant
movie scenario!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathryn L. Smith		UUCP: ...ll-xn!kathy
MIT Lincoln Laboratories	ARPANET: kathy@XN.LL.MIT.EDU
Lexington, MA			PHONE: (617) 863-5500 ext. 816-2211

	      "I didn't do it, and I can justify it all anyway."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------