Index of Topics

• General

  • Safety-critical systems Oxford University - this site contains information on safety-critical systems where lives may be at risk involving software and computers.

  
  

• Medical Safety

  Let's face it, just about everything in a hospital is tied to a computer somewhere. So what happens if these machines don't produce their expected results?

• Aviation and Space

  What happens when you send a multi-million dollar sattelite into orbit and the program has a bug in it? How about if an Air Traffic Controller crashes 104 times in one day?

• The Case of the "Killer Robot"

  How would you like to be killed by the robot you're operating?

• Other Computer-Related Accidents

  • Risks Digest Forum   - Forum on risks to the public in computers and related systems
  • Taipei subway computer crash   The Risks Digest
  • Girl killed in automatic car window   The Risks Digest

  
  

• Case Studies

    A list of links from The Risks Digest to different kinds of problems that can arise when computers crash or the software is not fully tested during development.

  1. Financial
     • Computer Error in phone bills   RD, May 1996
     • Largest Computer Error in US Banking History: US$763.9 BILLION?   RD, May 1996
     • Roundoff Error on Detroit Edison bills   RD, May 1996
     • Rounding Errors and Grammar Checkers   RD, June 1996
     • Computer Disk Crash Causes Misprinted Ballots   RD, Sept 1994
     • Lost Canadian Crime Statistics Data   RD, Sept 1993
     • Bank Mailing Problem RD, Aug 1993
     • Programming Errors Affect State Lottery   RD, Dec 1992
     • Pepsi promotion error blamed on computer glitch   RD, June 1992
     • Computer Scoring Glitch at Olympics   RD, Aug 1992

     
     

  2. Engineering Events
     • Taipei subway computer crash   RD, June 1996
     • Click *here* to Lower the Fuel Rods   RD, June 1996
     • Patriot: The Missile that Missed   RD, Apr 1992
     • Girl Killed in Automatic Car Window   RD, June 1992
     • Software Bug on TOPEX Spacecraft   RD, Aug 1992
     • Software Problems on Hubble Too   RD, Sept 1992
     • A320 engine control problem at Gatwick   RD, Oct 1992
     • Nuclear Computer Safety Fears   RD, Oct 1991
       

Index of Topics - Study Guide