Software Safety Issues and Cases

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how software defects, design errors and other computer-related glitches lie at the heart of problems that can cause either serious injury or death and how investigation of software errors and computer system defects is a major preoccupation and serious business. It focuses on the myriad of conditions implicated by such failures in software. Included in this discussion are the Airbus A320 crash, the Therac-25 case and a number of power plant miscarriages that have led to radiation leakages.

Outline
Introduction
Scope of Study
Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper:

"The question of how the pilots initially got into this unenviable position brought renewed attention to the A320's "glass cockpit." In lieu of the circular-dial instruments and toggle switches found in the cockpits of older planes, pilots flying the A320 face a large display of computer screens for monitoring the airplane and keyboards for typing in commands and making choices. In lieu of dealing with separate gauges and dials for speed, rate of climb, and altitude, they view the essential information bundled up in compact fashion on their screens. Yet such a system also makes it a challenge for pilots to monitor long-term trends in airspeed and other flight parameters, so they must rely on automatic alerts or warnings to tell them about significant changes in the plane's status."

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