As individuals, organisations and indeed the world at large have
become ever more dependent on computer-based systems, so there has been
an ever-growing amount of research into means for improving the dependability
of these systems. In particular, there has been much work on trying to
gain increased understanding of the many and varied types of faults that
need to be prevented or tolerated in order to reduce the probability and
severity of system failures.
In this lecture Professor Brian Randell (University of Newcastle) will focus on the following key issues:
(University of Newcastle)
Brian Randell graduated in Mathematics from Imperial College, London
in 1957 and joined the English Electric Company where he led a team which
implemented a number of compilers, including the Whetstone KDF9 ALGOL compiler.
From 1964 to 1969 he was with IBM - mainly at the IBM T J Watson Research
Centre in the United States - working on operating systems, the design
of ultra-high speed computers and system design methodology.
In 1969 he took up his present position as Professor of Computing Science at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where in 1971 he set up the project which initiated research into the possibility of software fault tolerance, and introduced the "recovery block" concept. Subsequent major developments included the Newcastle Connection and the prototype Distributed Secure System. He was principal investigator on a succession of research projects in reliability and security funded by the then Science and Engineering Research Council, the Ministry of Defence and the European Strategic Programme of Research in Information Technology (ESPIRIT). Most recently he has had the role of Project Director of DeVa, the ESPIRIT Long Term Research Project on Design for Validation, and of CaberNet, the ESPIRIT Network of Excellence on Distributed Computing Systems Architectures. He has published nearly two hundred technical papers and reports and is author or editor of seven books.
The all pervasive nature of the general-purpose computer has made the most profound mark on almost every aspect of our lives. The central seminal figure in this computer revolution was Alan Turing, whose outstanding originality and vision was what made it possible, in work originating in the mid 1930s. Although it is now hard to see what the limits of the computer revolution might eventually be, it was Turing himself who pointed out to us the very existence of such theoretical limitations.
In honour and recognition of Turing's contribution in the field of computing, the IEE and the BCS established the Turing Lecture in 1998. "Facing up to Faults" by Professor Brian Randell represents the second lecture in what will continue to be an annual event.
Built in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries on the site
of the first University buildings, Old College was originally designed
to house the whole University. Nowadays the building provides premises
for the Faculty of Law and the University's Art Gallery, as well as part
of the administration. Its interior contains the magnificent Playfair Library
Hall, one of the finest public rooms in Scotland with its neo-classical
barrel-vaulted ceiling.
| Travel Information
By Rail - The Great North Eastern railway line which links Edinburgh with London is the fastest inter-city railway in Britain, taking just over four hours to arrive at Waverley station in the centre of Edinburgh. Scot railway and Virgin lines link the city with northern and western Britain. By Road - Edinburgh has good motorway links to Perth, Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen on the M90; to Falkirk, Grangemouth and Stirling on the M9; Glasgow and the West on the M8, or the South via the A1(M) or via the A702 and A74 to the M6. |
No tickets are required for the Lecture. Attendance is free and open to all, with refreshments served from 5.30 pm.
A Dinner will follow the Lecture and everyone is invited to attend. Places are limited so book early by completing the form overleaf and returning it with the appropriate payment to Allyson Ford, Events Office, IEE, Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL; to arrive no later than Wednesday, 19 January 2000.
Keep up to date with the IEE Informatics Division and the BCS by visiting our websites at: http://www.iee.org.uk/Informatics/ and http://www.bcs.org.uk/.