When Computers Go Wrong

Barence writes "PC Pro's Stewart Mitchell has charted the world's ten most calamitous computer cock-ups. They include the Russians' stealing software that resulted in their gas pipeline exploding, the Mars Orbiter that went missing because the programmers got their imperial and metric measurements mixed up, the Soviet early-warning system that confused the sun for a missile and almost triggered World War III, plus the Windows anti-piracy measure that resulted in millions of legitimate customers being branded software thieves."

It's a simple rule

[Anonymous Coward]

As a fellow programmer I worked with years ago was fond of saying, "Computers don't make mistakes. They do, however, execute yours VERY carefully."

Re:Computers do what they are told to

[rarel]

it's okay, you can breathe now.

Re:Computers do what they are told to

[Opportunist]

To be fair, the PATRIOT manufacturer didn't think it would stay assembled for weeks without falling apart, thus requiring a restart.

Re:The creation of the EFF

[not-my-real-name]

Should this be modded "+1 Too Informative"?

Re:Computers do what they are told to

[PPH]

Don't anthropomorphize computers. They hate that.