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16 PART ONE THE PRODUCT AND THE PROCESS

[TOF90] Toffler, A., Powershift, Bantam Publishers, 1990.
[YOU92] Yourdon, E., The Decline and Fall of the American Programmer, Yourdon
Press, 1992.
[YOU96] Yourdon, E., The Rise and Resurrection of the American Programmer, Your-
don Press, 1996.
[YOU98a] Yourdon, E., Death March Projects, Prentice-Hall, 1998.
[YOU98b] Yourdon, E. and J. Yourdon, Time Bomb 2000, Prentice-Hall, 1998.

PROBLEMS AND POINTS TO PONDER

1.1. Software is the differentiating characteristic in many computer-based products
and systems. Provide examples of two or three products and at least one system in
which software, not hardware, is the differentiating element.
1.2. In the 1950s and 1960s, computer programming was an art form learned in an
apprenticelike environment. How have the early days affected software development
practices today?
1.3. Many authors have discussed the impact of the "information era." Provide a
number of examples (both positive and negative) that indicate the impact of software
on our society. Review one of the pre-1990 references in Section 1.1 and indicate
where the author’s predictions were right and where they were wrong.

1.4. Choose a specific application and indicate: (a) the software application category
(Section 1.2.2) into which it fits; (b) the data content associated with the application;
and (c) the information determinacy of the application.

1.5. As software becomes more pervasive, risks to the public (due to faulty pro-
grams) become an increasingly significant concern. Develop a realistic doomsday
scenario (other than Y2K) where the failure of a computer program could do great
harm (either economic or human).
1.6. Peruse the Internet newsgroup comp.risks and prepare a summary of risks to
the public that have recently been discussed. An alternate source is Software Engi-
neering Notes published by the ACM.

1.7. Write a paper summarizing recent advances in one of the leading edge soft-
ware application areas. Potential choices include: advanced Web-based applications,
virtual reality, artificial neural networks, advanced human interfaces, intelligent agents.

1.8. The “myths” noted in Section 1.4 are slowly fading as the years pass, but oth-
ers are taking their place. Attempt to add one or two “new” myths to each category.