[GreenKeys] Methinks I am wasting my time... or am I ?

[Bryan Brodie]

Don,

I love reading this stuff. I remember taking a field trip to a Bell
System switching center when I was in 5th grade. I was amazed. The
engineer giving the tour directed our attention to a pair of relays
which had just connected: "this is someone's phone call, happening
right now...". Then he briefly pried apart the copper contacts and the
relays returned to the resting point. "that phone call was just
disconnected." I thought it was totally cool.

I agree with the others who have stated that it is important to
document the history of so-called "obsolete" technology. Does anyone
know of a current technology with the longevity, reliability and
impact of electromechanical telecommunications? Teletype and
mechanical switching endured for more than half a century, and by
"endured", I mean, worked flawlessly with virtually no hiccups.

While the monopoly business model of the original Bell System may have
stifled competition, there is no question that the level of customer
service from this era has yet to be equaled by the deregulated
carriers. Cellular and internet providers today are notorious for bad
service and bad attitude.

I suspect that at some point in the very near future, we as a society
will come to regret our headlong rush into highly hackable IP
telephony as the backbone of our telecommunications infrastructure.

The failure of cellular communications on 9/11 is but one example of
the lack of durability inherent in the current technology. I doubt it
will be the last.

Bryan Brodie