A PC is a too complex architecture to be given to every users. A “pc on every desk” probably was one of the biggest mistakes in the information technology era.
Transcript: #StandardsGoals for 2024: What’s new for BISAC - Tech Forum 2024
A pc on every desk. A big mistake.
1. A PC on every desk
Probably, one of the biggest error in
the information technology era
Smaller footprint, same 1
complexity
2. PC: a downsized mainframe
Same Von Neumann architecture: ALU, registries,
memory, I/O, interrupts, HD, other devices
Same pile of sftw stacks: microcode, OS, drivers,
system services, DB, applications
Together with:
o The difficulty, for a typical user, to run,
administer, maintain and fine tune the
system
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3. User. Not a system engineer
Typical user doesn’t - and must not - have the
expertise necessary for everyday maintenance of
his “working tool”
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4. Maintenance schedule
Best practices for a healthy PC (at least once in a
week)
o Run antivirus & spyware removal tools
o Install the latest updates
o Backup the entire system
o Encrypt confidential data
o Check for errors and backup your local mailbox file
o Run utilities to check for dangerous problem like the
“rootkit” infection
o Check for unwanted applications/services that eat
system resources
o Check the hard disk for volume errors
o Continue ….. 4
5. Is Windows faulty ?
No, but:
The more the third party applications you add to the
systems the more it becomes fragile and prone to crashes.
Like any complex architecture it requires an accurate and
constant maintenance
Internet can be a dangerous source of, virus, spyware,
malaware, ecc
Many users downloads and install uncertified and untested
applications from the web
It was not designed to be a “closed” platform
centrally managed by a team of expert
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7. Time machine: back to 80s
What would have happened in a real world
Geek
Open platform
User
Closed & specialized
platform 7
8. Back to the future
“Closed”
Cloud Midrange SaaS
devices:
computing systems applications
iPad
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9. Cloud Computing
Put back the platform's management issues in
the hands of the experts
OPEX: pay per use
SLA: support & maintenance fees are based on
the reliability index needed
Platform-free clients:
any combination of hardware & software able
to run a web browser
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10. Midrange systems
Kind of “private cloud”
Ideal solution for “single-server” companies
Centralized model
Bring back the complexity into the “computer
room”
No more “personal” workstations
End of company data stored on users’ disks
Low-TCO terminals
SOA approach to integrate third party “SaaS”
solutions
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11. Legacy UI (User Interface)
Too often the wrong reason behind the abandon
of a midrange reliable system
Modern tools allows easy UI to GUI mapping
Not always a modern GUI is the right choice
o 5250-UI is still the fastest way for data-entry
operators
Multi-touch screens, hand-gestures or eye-
movements recognition devices can be easily
“connected” using SOA Web Services to access
the Business Logic components.
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13. iPad
Closed platform
o Runs only certified applications
Almost whatever could be a source of problems
has been removed by design
Easy to use
Geeks hate it
Keegs (opposite of Geek) love it
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14. SaaS applications
Google Docs - Office Live
All you needs is a browser
Data are stored “somewhere” in the Cloud
o Accessible everywhere from any device
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15. Slim OSs
Chrome OS, iPhone OS, Windows EC 7, Ubuntu light,
ecc
New Operating Systems designed to work exclusively
with Web Applications
Google Chromoting
o Chrome OS extension to run "legacy PC applications" right
in the browser
Services
Present OS
Browser Light OS
Services Browser
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