Re: REALITY CHECK TIME!

On Fri, 19 Jul 2002, Edward Lipsett wrote:

> 
> Upon reading that line, my immediate question is "Why is it possible
to do
> so?" An interlock would cost maybe US$10 and solve any safety problem.
> This is a common design philosophy error in designing industrial
machinery
> of all kinds. 

Until the safety interlock breaks down in the field, and the troopies
can't get *either* door to open! (or can't get one or the other to
close...)

Industrial machinery is one animal; I think the actual military types on
the list would agree that military equipment is a whole 'nother species
entirely.

You see this sort of thing with aircraft, too - it is quite possible to
design an aircraft that is practically impossible to stall or spin; but
practically all aircraft still can stall & spin. They do work, though,
they're cheap and they're available. So they're still commonplace.

<cynic> Besides, grunts are probably cheaper than safety interlocks, and
easier to replace... </cynic> :>

(ditto student pilots, come to think of it!)

Brian - yh728@victoria.tc.ca -
- http://wind.prohosting.com/~warbard/games.html -

> 
> on 02.7.19 3:43 PM, Scott Siebold at gamers@ameritech.net scribbleth:
> > 
> > Warning DO NOT LOWER ramp while hatch is open "right out of the
> > manual".
> 
> --
> The true university of these days is a collection of books.
> - Thomas Carlyle, "On Heroes and Hero Worship"
> -- 
> Edward Lipsett
> Intercom, Ltd.
> Fukuoka, Japan
> Tel: 092-712-9120
> Fax: 092-712-9220
> translation@intercomltd.com
> http://www.intercomltd.com
>