Problem:
Obsolescence in information systems is caused due to rapid changes in
technology. However, part of this obsolescence is also caused by industry for
economic reasons to make quick and sustained revenues. Today's many information
system products are made obsolete by simply changing the looks (appearance
obsolescence), new product versions (not supporting the previous ones), frequent
releases (planned obsolescence), design obsolescence (modify design and not
support upward compatibility) and so on. This obsolescence is also seeping into
education, careers, knowledge, Web data, aging people and other commodity
products.
Product obsolescence is viewed as a necessity by some as illustrated by the
following quotation.The only big companies that succeed will be those
that obsolete their own products before someone else does, Bill Gates
Founder, Microsoft Corp. A similar comment by Bill Gates is also worth
mentioning: In three years, every product my company makes will be obsolete.
In addition, Peter Denning noted the importance of not tying computing
principles to rapidly changing technologies such as the silicon chip, the
operating system, the Internet, or the expert system, stating that,
It sounds like we are defined by ephemeral inventions.
who can be sure that any of these technologies will be with us in a generation?
And the field that generates them?
In addition, current information systems are prone to security vulerabilities
inspite of secuirty patches and prevention mechanisms. When one patch is fixed,
another vulnerability pops up. Before all vulnerabilities are fixed, a new
version is in the pipeline. This cycle continues, with no end in sight to solve
security issues. It is clearly a catch-and-mouse game. Most of the academic institutions, industry and government agencies are spending their budgets and resources to address security problems on a daily basis. Academic institutions today are focussed on industry problems instead of teaching fundamentals in computer science and engineering. Now all of them only focus on AI but nothing else! How long this hype will last?
In my opinion, security issues will be there for a long time, as our information system architecture and design itself is not secure. Today, 5 billon people use the Internet with global access and some of them are hackers and intruders all over the world. How can you secure a global inforation system world with so many users? There is need for fundamental principles in Information Systems so that we can build systems similar to building monuments and houses.In addition, there is an urgent need to revisit the need for globalization, rapid obsolescence, evolutionary constantly computer architectures and information systems, roots ofsecurity vulnerabilities and computer systems in general.