(Still) striving for utopia [automation failure]

A system for the air defence of UK airspace was meant to detect all situations requiring action, to warn personnel and to route all relevant radar. It was to enable C/sup 2/ to be operated over all of UK airspace. There were too many rules and the project was abandoned. Later, it was much simplified and implemented. The article describes how developments in computers lead to increased expectations of them on the part of politicians and managers. Computer experts have to understand what is in fact practicable. Systems that have failed are discussed. Part of the problem is that people do not behave as the programmers anticipate. There is a need for a cohesive systems science base.