飛天軟盤：遺制、阻力、變革之難

 

飛天軟盤：遺制、阻力、變革之難

雲端儲存、千兆互聯、人工智能之世，巨型飛機仍用昔日軟盤，豈不怪哉？波音七四七四百型，空中巨擘，竟以三寸半軟盤，更航電軟體，更導航數據。此非奇聞異事，乃證變革之阻，雖理當求變，而阻力甚巨。

七四七四百型之用軟盤，亦有其由。此機成於八九十年代，軟盤盛行之時。航空安全至重，既經認證，必求穩妥。更換系統，耗時費力，鉅資難計。

「無壞不修」，古訓如是。航空業嚴謹，此言尤重。然此非僅務實，乃涉複雜系統之慣性，技藝、官僚、社會皆然。

軟盤之事，乃世間百態之縮影。朝廷舊律，歷數十年，阻礙革新。商賈舊器，隱藏漏洞，難以兼容。凡人習性，弊端昭彰，亦難更易。

阻力之由，多矣。財力為要，變革耗資，風險難測。然人性亦然，戀舊畏新，習以為常。懼未知，拒新技，安於舊習。

況乎既得利益者，必力阻變革。權勢團體、官僚機構、私利之徒，築壘自衛。以安全、穩定、傳統為由，巧言令色，實則虛妄。

七四七四百型軟盤之事，警示世人，進步雖必然，然非坦途。阻力強大，無處不在。欲破此局，非僅技術革新，更需勇於挑戰舊規，質疑現狀，勇於求變。

七四七四百型終將退役，軟盤亦成古董。然其教訓，歷久彌新。遺制與革新，惰性與進步，此乃恆久之戰，吾輩當奮力前行。

Floppy Disks in the Sky

 

Floppy Disks in the Sky: A Tale of Legacy, Resistance, and the Reluctance to Change

In an age of cloud storage, gigabit internet, and artificial intelligence, it might seem absurd to imagine a modern aircraft relying on technology from the dawn of the personal computer era. Yet, the Boeing 747-400, a workhorse of the skies, provides a stark reminder of how deeply entrenched legacy systems can be. Astonishingly, some of these giants of aviation still utilize 3.5-inch floppy disks to update critical avionics software, including navigation databases.¹ This isn't a quirky anomaly; it's a testament to the powerful forces that resist change, even when logic suggests otherwise.

The 747-400's reliance on floppy disks is, in a way, understandable. These aircraft were designed and certified in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the 3.5-inch floppy was ubiquitous. Aviation's rigorous safety standards dictate that once a system is certified and proven reliable, it tends to remain in use. Replacing these systems requires extensive, expensive recertification, a process that can take years and cost millions.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the old adage goes. And in the highly regulated world of aviation, this sentiment carries significant weight. But this isn't just about pragmatism. It's about the inherent inertia that plagues complex systems, be they technological, bureaucratic, or societal.

The floppy disk scenario is a microcosm of a much larger phenomenon. We see it in government, where outdated regulations linger for decades, hindering innovation and efficiency. We see it in corporations, where legacy software and hardware persist, creating security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues. And we see it in our personal lives, where habits and routines, even those detrimental to our well-being, are stubbornly difficult to break.

The reasons for this resistance are manifold. Cost is a significant factor, of course. Change often requires substantial investment, and the perceived risk of disruption can outweigh the potential benefits. But there's also the human element. We are creatures of habit, and we often cling to the familiar, even when it's demonstrably inferior. Fear of the unknown, resistance to learning new skills, and the simple comfort of routine all play a role.

Moreover, those who benefit from the status quo often actively resist change. Powerful lobbies, entrenched bureaucracies, and individuals with vested interests can erect formidable barriers to progress. They wield arguments about safety, stability, and the preservation of tradition to defend their positions, even when those arguments are demonstrably flimsy.

The 747-400's floppy disk predicament serves as a potent reminder that while progress is inevitable, it is rarely linear. The forces that resist change are powerful and pervasive. Overcoming them requires not only technological innovation but also a willingness to challenge established norms, to question the status quo, and to embrace the discomfort of the unfamiliar.

While the 747-400 will eventually be phased out, and the floppy disks will become relics of a bygone era, the lessons they impart remain relevant. The struggle between legacy and innovation, between inertia and progress, is a constant battle, one that we must continually fight if we are to move forward.

百年居戰 Miles Glendinning

百年居戰：葛氏論政、現代建築、群居之議

葛氏Miles Glendinning之鴻篇巨著，以銳利之眼，審視政、現代建築、群居之繁複關係。彼謂此關係，非僅蔽風雨之簡事，乃歷百年之「戰」，於民居之地，爭鋒相對，彰顯政權於民生之日增。

政權為匠之興：

葛氏之研，詳載二十世紀政權於居所之干預。此非僅建屋，乃塑社會。現代建築之理則，重效率、標準、社會工程，成政權施其宏圖之利器。政權，實為民生之巨匠。

「百年居戰」之喻：

葛氏之論，核心在於其「百年居戰」之喻。此非連綿不絕之戰，乃劇烈衝突與相對平靜之交替。

• 初起動員（二十世紀初）：
  • 此戰之初，政權受社會改革之驅，為解都市陋室之患，力推現代建築之居所。高樓林立、公共空間之「光輝城市」，成進步與社會平等之象徵。
  • 此期，大規模社會住宅興起，政權深涉規劃、融資、營建。
• 現代建築之盛（二十世紀中）：
  • 二戰後，現代建築群居達其頂峰。政權為重建與福利國之擴張，推行巨型住宅計畫。
  • 此期，大量統一標準之住宅區興建。
• 反擊（二十世紀末）：
  • 然，現代建築之夢漸破。社會問題、建築單調、疏離感日增，致廣泛失望。
  • 此期，社會住宅漸衰，市場導向之住宅興起。
• 戰事延續（二十一世紀）：
  • 此戰延續，政權於居所之角色、現代建築之優劣、個人自由與社會責任之衡，爭論不休。
  • 今，可見關於可負擔性、可持續性及舊居政策之遺留之爭議。

政權勢力之增：

葛氏之析，揭示居所之供，如何成政權擴張之手段。群居計畫，本質上涉政權對民生之深干。政權定民之居所、屋之設計、社區之組織。此致政民關係之巨變。

• 社會控制：
  • 居所成社會控制之具，政權藉此塑社會行為，推行意識形態。
• 經濟影響：
  • 政權藉居所政策，控土地開發、營建、融資，施其經濟影響。
• 空間規劃：
  • 群居計畫使政權能行大規模空間規劃，重塑都市景觀，影響社會互動。

遺留之影響：

葛氏之作，警示居所與政權之複雜爭議關係。其「百年居戰」之喻，顯現於提供居所時，平衡社會需求、建築理想、個人自由之持續鬥爭。明瞭歷史背景，方能於二十一世紀之居所政策，從容應對。