From FELIX REDMILL
Referring to the Feedback article on the Safety Critical Systems Club
(10 July): The club is managed by the Institution of Electrical Engineers,
the British Computer Society, and the Centre for Software Reliability at
the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The ‘systems’ referred to are software-based
systems in safety-critical applications – such as fly-by-wire aircraft,
railway signals and chemical plants.
The components of the systems discipline are drawn from a number of
domains, particularly safety engineering, software and systems engineering,
human factors and quality management. Academics are attempting to weave
these disciplines into new technologies, and there is a need both to bring
these new technologies to the attention of the system developers and to
transfer existing technologies between industries.
The objectives of the Safety Critical Systems Club are to facilitate
both technology transfer and the raising of awareness. It achieves these
objectives by a programme which includes a regular newsletter, seminars,
an annual symposium with published proceedings and many ad hoc initiatives.
Membership is open to all, and enquiries may be made to Mrs Atkinson, The
University, 20 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU; Tel: 091 212
4040.
Felix Redmill London
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