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June 03, 2004
Ain't technology wonderful?!
You begin to realise just how dependent we have become on technology - electrical goodies in particular - when you wake up to hear that all the UK's airports have been closed because a super duper high tec computerised air traffic control system has just gone belly up. OK, so it was only down for an hour - but they don't know why it went down, or why it came up again - and in the single hour it has completely thrown all the departures schedules off the timetable. The last news I heard was that all flights outbound could expect delays of a minimum of three hours!
It reminded me sharply that much of my work has become so dependent on this lump of metal and plastic set in front of me. So much so, in fact, that around half of what I do would not be possible for some time if I suddenly had to do without it! The amount of information I would not have access to is phenomenal!
Last August we saw what happens when you deprive a major population centre of power for 24 hours, and while the people coped reasonably well and rather good naturedly, what would have been the case after 48 hours, Or 72? or 164?
Never mind backing up my files, what essential information would I need and how do I store it so that I can continue to function without this fancy hardware? Perhaps my habit of keeping paper copies and copious files is not such a stupid idea after all. And perhaps there ought to be some other "failsafe" on the air traffic control system!
Now, where the hell did I pack that gas cooker and the oil lamps ........
Posted by The Gray Monk at June 3, 2004 09:17 AM