Low Tech Methodologies Badly Needed

[protectionist]

In the PJ forum, we often talk about US national security. One thing, and an important one, that is typically overlooked is the precarious status of many of our essential functions. These include military, transportation, food supply, medical operations, electric power grid, traffic lights, water treatment and supply.

I really don't mean to pick on the younger generations of America, but it really looks like they have gotten all of us out on a limb, by putting too much stuff into cyber technology. It is becoming too easy for enemies of America to disable necessary functions of our society, by cyber attacks from hackers, as well as the frightening possible EMP attack.

Younger people seem to have thrown in with the high-tech mind set so deeply, that they have discarded the pre-computer age technologies, which worked fine for us, for many years. Before computers, we had jet aircraft, automobiles, factories, and all the essentials noted in the first paragraph here. None of us had ever even heard of computer technology, as it hadn't even been invented yet. But we had what we needed, and even built submarines, battleships, aircraft carriers, tanks, and won a world war on 2 fronts.

So now we have automobiles that mechanics are unable to fix, because they're loaded with computer technology. Tractors that farmers can't use (the new ones are bombing at the stores), and the farmers are buying old, pre-1980 tractors. The list goes on and on.

Could Iran or China defeat us without a single military strike, but just by a few clicks of a mouse ? Before anyone answers that question, a lot of research may be needed. One thing is for sure. Whether the answer to that question is yes or no, we should be developing/retrieving old/low tech operations, aka BACKUP.

Here's a few questions. Can the following be operated/controlled without the use of a computer ?

1. Dams
2. Traffic signals
3. Water supply
4. Electrical grid
5. Hospital machines/devices
6. Store cash registers
7. Communications - TV, radio
8. Transportation- cars, trucks, trains, airplanes
9. Water treatment plants
10. Machine shops - manufacturing

Midwest Farmers Are Tired of Tech-Loaded Tractors They Can’t Fix

The China Challenge

Center for a New American Security

 

[Boltlady]

In the PJ forum, we often talk about US national security. One thing, and an important one, that is typically overlooked is the precarious status of many of our essential functions. These include military, transportation, food supply, medical operations, electric power grid, traffic lights, water treatment and supply.

I really don't mean to pick on the younger generations of America, but it really looks like they have gotten all of us out on a limb, by putting too much stuff into cyber technology. It is becoming too easy for enemies of America to disable necessary functions of our society, by cyber attacks from hackers, as well as the frightening possible EMP attack.

Younger people seem to have thrown in with the high-tech mind set so deeply, that they have discarded the pre-computer age technologies, which worked fine for us, for many years. Before computers, we had jet aircraft, automobiles, factories, and all the essentials noted in the first paragraph here. None of us had ever even heard of computer technology, as it hadn't even been invented yet. But we had what we needed, and even built submarines, battleships, aircraft carriers, tanks, and won a world war on 2 fronts.

So now we have automobiles that mechanics are unable to fix, because they're loaded with computer technology. Tractors that farmers can't use (the new ones are bombing at the stores), and the farmers are buying old, pre-1980 tractors. The list goes on and on.

Could Iran or China defeat us without a single military strike, but just by a few clicks of a mouse ? Before anyone answers that question, a lot of research may be needed. One thing is for sure. Whether the answer to that question is yes or no, we should be developing/retrieving old/low tech operations, aka BACKUP.

Here's a few questions. Can the following be operated/controlled without the use of a computer ?

1. Dams
2. Traffic signals
3. Water supply
4. Electrical grid
5. Hospital machines/devices
6. Store cash registers
7. Communications - TV, radio
8. Transportation- cars, trucks, trains, airplanes
9. Water treatment plants
10. Machine shops - manufacturing

Midwest Farmers Are Tired of Tech-Loaded Tractors They Can’t Fix

The China Challenge

Center for a New American Security

Growth and innovation are great and necessary but we need to keep a doable pace. The youngsters often want to skip too many things.

 

[protectionist]

Growth and innovation are great and necessary but we need to keep a doable pace. The youngsters often want to skip too many things.

They have a tendency to think that the more technological things are, the better they are. This is without pausing to consider the ramifications to national security, and just everyday drawbacks to some of the technology.

We need to step back and take a good hard look & cost/benefit analysis and examine if we might be better off with some things being done in pre-computer era ways (or at least be sure to have that as backup if the computers fail)