That old MTA control system is probably based on electro-mechanical switching. Vs. newfangled computerised switching used for Metro.
Anyone who has any knowledge of the software industry will definitely opt for electro-mechanical simplicity over software-controlled complexity all other things being equal.
With an infinitesimal number of exceptions, ALL software is excessively complex, riddled with errors and faults, and the industry that produces it is cavalier to the point of criminal liability - EXCEPT unlike virtually every other industry that makes security-critical or safety-critical products in this country, software manufacturers are not held legally liable in any way for their mediocrity and negligence. Worse, they have been so successful in brainwashing the public that they have us all believing that not working the way it's supposed to a large percentage of the time, doing things it's not supposed to far more often than is acceptable, and failing frequently are simply unavoidable characteristics of the product that we all have to live with. And guess what? We do. Because we're stupid sheep.
--
Karen Mercedes - contralto
singwiththespirit [at] yahoo [dot] com
http://artfuljesus.0catch.com/karenmercedes.html
