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The Problem
Information technology consists of those techniques used to gather,
process, store, and communicate information. The concern of this workshop
was standards that facilitate the use of those information technologies that
are important in enhancing the competitive position of U.S. enterprises.
The two key national issues concerning information technology stan-
dards are:
the timeliness of the standardization process within the United
States for effective support of a domestic industrial base that is
globally competitive, and
the degree to which U.S. interests in standardization are effec-
tively developed and represented in worldwide standards-making
activities.
The merger of computers and communications, deregulation and di-
vestiture in the telecommunications industry, and the ubiquitous entry of
the microcomputer into the workplace have greatly increased the oppor-
tunities and the problems associated with the use of these technologies.
ldday, users are faced with major problems in dealing with life-cycle issues
that exist when their data may be useful for 50 years, their applications
average 10 years, and the computer hardware and operating systems have
an average life cycle of 5 years. The network interconnecting multiple
systems has its own life cycle and must be able to evolve without disrupting
the data, applications, or computing systems that, in effect, are citizens
of the network. Standardization of the interfaces between these elements
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with different life cycles is the only way that industry can maintain and
evolve systems over time. Many of the current problems in the computer
and communications market result from users' inability to incorporate new
products into existing processes. Throughout the U.S. economy, in both in-
dust~y and government, there are users going to great expense to maintain
old systems because the move to newer systems requires completely new
equipment, new software, and new procedures for the personnel.
The problem is that the required standards are not promulgated and
then reviewed and modernized in a timely manner to keep up with the
technology. Many users feel that development and evolution of standards
would greatly reduce costs. Most users also feel that the European and
the Pacific Rim countries do better in standards developing than does the
United States.
Many say that the standards-developing organizations that operate
under ANSI cannot do the job. There are now a large number of consortia
outside of ANSI that have been formed for standardizing particular niches.
As the planning committee discussed the issues, they reformulated
them into the following sequence of questions:
.
.
· Is the current voluntary standards developing system optimum;
could it be greatly improved by minor or even major reorganization?
· Are all segments of industry, and in particular, the user segment,
aware of the significance of standards on their business opera-
tions or do they less than adequately support their personnel in
participation in standards developing operations?
Is the federal government discharging its responsibility to organize
the standards setting effort so that the United States is better
equipped to negotiate in the international standards arena, or are
stepped-up efforts called for?
Are antitrust laws and the enforcement of these laws an appropriate
protection against the use of standards in restraint of trade, or do
they also hinder domestic industry in organizing for standardization
that would enhance U.S. competitiveness?
Are multiple consortia outside of ANSI wasteful of resources, or
are they a good way for an open society to explore various options
and develop the best standards?
These questions were discussed during the workshop. Consensus was
reached by the attendees on all but the last question.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
consortia outside
