Potentially Catastrophic Effects of Computer Error
To Be Debated This May at University of Toronto Conference

FIRST AND ONLY "OPEN SOURCE" EVENT OF ITS KIND IN CANADA

Potentially catastrophic effects resulting from computer error will be among topics discussed at a conference to be held this May at the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.

Titled "Open Source and Free Software: Concepts, Controversies and Solutions," the meeting will be held Sunday, May 9, to Tuesday, May 11, at Convocation Hall, 31 King's College Circle. Open source refers to the practice of making public the code that makes software work.

The event is the first and only of its kind in Canada and the most comprehensive anywhere. The conference Web site is http://osconf.kmdi.utoronto.ca.

"Computer error" has been a catch phrase since the technology was invented. The issue, however, received widespread attention March 10 when Belinda Stronach published on her Web site a letter from her campaign director to the national executive director of the Conservative Party of Canada. "Legitimate, paid-up members are being disenfranchised," wrote campaign director John Laschinger, attributing many of the problems to the "manner in
which the Party has arranged its computer system."

The text of the letter was originally published on Stronach's Web site, www.belinda.ca, but has since been deleted.

According to Laschinger, at least 7,000 members "are losing the right to vote" for the leader of their party. "The computer does not recognize that two or more different people in the same province can have the same name," adds Laschinger.

In addition, he lists six other examples of computer error. All of them come under the heading of "reliability," one of the technical issues to be discussed at the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO conference.

"The kinds of error described by Laschinger are common to many computer systems" says UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO computer science professor Steve Easterbrook. "At present, the code that drives the majority of software applications is accessible only by the person who wrote it. Only the designer knows how the application works," adds Easterbrook.

"Advocates of open source argue that computer systems could be made much more reliable if their inner workings were made public. Then, instead of having to design each one from scratch, software companies could build on and adapt one another's solutions," says Easterbrook.

According to the National Post, on March 19 "Ms. Stronach's campaign blunted its criticism of the party's central membership list." The newspaper quoted Laschinger as saying, "I think all of us will respect the outcome. We have to."

"As it turned out, Stronach's opponent Stephen Harper won a decisive first-ballot victory," says Easterbrook. "But imagine the consequences had the race been extremely close, as was the 2000 US presidential election. There is much speculation that Canada might face a minority government, in which case the conservative leader could wield considerable influence,"
adds Easterbrook.

"Problems with software reliability are a threat to the integrity of our electoral system, and it is at our peril that we fail to address them," warns Easterbrook.

Other technical issues to be discussed at the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO conference include customizability, usability and security.

Contact
Bernie Hogan, Publicity Chair
416-898-7630
Bernie.Hogan@utoronto.ca

Kelly Rankin, Conference Coordinator
416-946-8512
Kelly@kmdi.utoronto.ca