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When Computers Go “Rogue” by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC Most of us have encountered a “rogue” computer. You know, the computer doesn’t do what you tell it to do or does something you don’t want it to do. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines rogue as a dishonest, worthless, or mischievous person . Some even fear computers becoming so sophisticated they will attempt to take over the world like something out of a science fiction movie. You don’t have to fear the science fiction movie scenario, but malfunctioning computers are a concern in many cases because we often depend on them to make critical decisions. For example: A computer failing to deploy the air bags installed in a car at the right moment during a crash could mean the difference between life and death. Almost as bad would be violent air bag deployment when the car is being driven normally, which could result in the driver losing control of the car and causing an accident. Computer malfunctions can almost always be traced to two problems: hardware problems or software problems - or both. Computer hardware is anything we can see and touch . . . the silicon “chip”, the printed circuit board, wiring, connectors, and related items. Any one of these compo- nents can fail, and render the computer partially or fully unusable. Computer software is the “codes” or instructions which tell the computer what to do. Since not all of the software is used all of the time, problems can sur- face months or even years after the soft- ware has been released for sale. This is why it is so important to test the software under ALL conditions, be- cause if the computer encounters a con- dition it hasn’t been programmed to deal with, it will probably do something wrong or not do something it is supposed to. This includes temperature, humidity, and impact conditions, as well. Some things we would attribute to malfunctions or poor software really are a designed-in feature. Have you noticed on your smartphone how the icons often move around on the display . . . often more than they need to? Have you also noticed how an advertising icon wi l l “scoot” under your finger so your finger press brings up an advertisement you didn’t want instead of the l ink you wanted? Since some of those displays can sense finger proximity, as well as touch, the computer can “anticipate” where you are going to put your finger and rearrange the display accordingly. Since computer memory is nothing more than voltages stored on silicon, “stray” voltages can alter the memory. Most computers have filters and other provisions to minimize these problems, and computer components have been greatly improved over the years to deal with this issue, but it happens. Some- times memory retention can be a prob- l em, wh i ch usua l l y r esu l t s i n t he computer “forgetting” what you tell it. Many computers have ways to detect problem memory areas Storkson cont’d on page 20. G[I+WS1aT:[aFIWOOWS1aWSF;RTI/aRWS3[a]A`X0 +)) !(%'*,+)$,(+*#,(" '*, &[RTa7IMS'2KIT$a?OOWSKWRaaQVXAQaa@GB =K3MTWKSa ] E^<MWO8aaT[[(M/\<WF,[RTUS[T ***')((! & $)"' %# 3746-7018!'+,728#+042$627 .5&783518.)6**6"(8 8 7 ,83518/608/-5645%47 Q]X^AJN^LPN]aaaaa7M48aaQ]X^AJN^VPVA @UGUaDKOO^7I[[8aX``^JLP^`PQV CEC@6aD>? Q^]YL__a\aaaZQ`` Q^]YV__a\aaaZQ`` Q^JYL__a\aaaZQ`` N^NYX__a\aaaZQP`aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa X^]YV__a\aaaZX``aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa X^JYL__a\aaaZX`` ]V^]YL__a\aZ]AP`aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaa ]L^JYL__a\aZJ```aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaa ]N^]YV__a\aZL```aaa VV__aaaaaaa\aZLVP` B==aBH5%EaGEB=E) HEBC?6!a CED?*aD55D" Q^]YX__aGUHUa\aaaZJP` Q^]YXaCUHUa\aaaZVP` N^NYX__aGUHUa\aaaZP`` X^]YV__ GUHU \aaaZP`` ]V^]YL__ \aZ]L`` ]N^]YV0aCUHUa\aZ]NP` 6[,aYa@S;R[Fa9WTR J^NYX__a<[FaTKKT:a\aZ]XP .RTWOOaWSa9K4-aa X^]YV__aGUHUaD>?a\aZVNP` .RTWOOaWSa9K4- X^]YV__a>:IWRT[SR[Sa*)>a\aZJ``` BOOaK2aT:[aM9K+[aMI[a@UGUa<MS;2M3T;I[FUaaaa #WFR[MRKSa HMI1MWSR a 10 APRIL 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®