Join the Hunt For the Government's Oldest Computer (muckrock.com)

v3rgEz writes: As the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' If a machine is doing its job, reliably and without error, then common sense dictates that you just shouldn't mess with it. This is doubly true for computers and quadruply true for government computers. This lends itself to an obvious question: what's the government computer most in need of an upgrade? MuckRock has launched a new FOIA project to find out, and has already started receiving some interesting results.

Comments

Re:Intredasting

[sphealey]

= = = A couple of years ago I heard of a late-70's VAX still being used at a small power plant. To my knowledge it controlled some sort of HVAC systems. Another old system, one I've actually seen, was a mid-80's computer of unknown make/model used to control traffic lights in a small city. It's funny, or actually impressive, to see such old systems still in use.= = =

Those systems were designed to be reliable, maintainable, and understandable by thorough professionals, so it is in no way surprising they continue to work. And in the industrial infrastructure world you don't replace equipment just because there is a shinier new version. 50 year old equipment is not uncommon in the provision-of-electricity industry and I've seen some 80 year old stuff in operation.

sPh