[Asterisk-Users] Re: Advice on OS Choice

[Andrew Kohlsmith]

On Friday 15 October 2004 16:22, Michael Giagnocavo wrote:
> >problem lies in the policy for upgrading or installing software on
> >life-critical machines not being followed.

> I agree with that. But, what's going to be held up in court? As a lawyer
> for a medical equipment corp, which route are you going to take to be safe?

As a medical equipment corp system designer (I do this for a living, although 
not for medical) I'd make damn sure the software couldn't be updated without 
the correct access codes being in place, including hardware interlocks with 
physical keys.  It's not hard to make firmware loaders require this kind of 
stuff.

> Imagine a toaster that ships with a booklet that shows the schematics and
> shows people how to "rebuild" the toaster. Then some person (either a
> 9-yr-old or an experienced electrician) uses the instructions, and fries
> themselves. Or the next person who uses the toaster starts a fire. When it
> gets to court, you can bet that the lawyers are going to try to blame the
> company for "making it easier to modify the toaster". Even though it's
> utterly silly, that's how the US legal system works. No one is responsible
> for their own mistakes.

This used to be the way it was.  The Amiga computers all came with full 
schematics.  Radios and televisions had easily obtainable service manuals.  
Radio Shack actually had a decent parts inventory.  Hell IIRC certain 
versions of DOS (CP/M?) had full source listings!

*sigh* good old days...

-A.