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From: lyang%scherzo@Sun.COM (Larry Yang)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: What the world needs now [ is a
Message-ID: <21609@sun.uucp>
Date: Fri, 19-Jun-87 17:35:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.21609
Posted: Fri Jun 19 17:35:02 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Jun-87 04:11:09 EDT
References: <1519@phred.UUCP> <140200001@tiger.UUCP>
Sender: news@sun.uucp
Reply-To: lyang@sun.UUCP (Larry Yang)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
Lines: 32


>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!
>
Oh yeah? Well the Sun I'm working at now has no power switch, and the power
cord is electrified so that you can't touch it.  And there are lasers
mounted all over ready to disintegrate anyone who even thinks about...

-------------------------------------------------->>>>>> * ZAP !!!!! ****

********************************************************************************
Disclaimer: This is just a joke.

--Larry Yang [lyang@sun.com,{backbone}!sun!lyang]|   A REAL _|> /\ |
  Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, CA      | signature |   | | /-\ |-\ /-\
  "German Physicists discover lost city of       |          <|_/ \_| \_/\| |_\_|
   Austin, Texas."                               |                _/          _/