Thread Subject: Combined Hardware Subcommittee Proposal

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From: Randy Marsden (Home)
Date: Fri, Dec 15 2006 8:20 AM

Hello:

BACKGROUND
I was tasked with writing a proposal for the idea of combining some of the
TEITAC sub-committees into one called ³Hardware². As part of that process,
I gathered feedback from sub-committee members on the weekly teleconference
meetings for both the Desktops & Portables subcommittee as well as the
Closed and Self-contained subcommittee. This proposal is a DRAFT, shared
between the listserves of those two subcommittees. Once it is vetted
between those two subcommittees, it will be submitted to the Co-chairs of
the TEITAC.

PROPOSAL
That the two sub-committees presently titled ³Closed and Self-Contained² and
³Desktops and Portables² be combined into one sub-committee titled ³Hardware
and Self-Contained². Further, that any hardware-specific issues raised in
Telecom, General, or other sub-committees be assigned to the newly formed
Hardware sub-committee.

RATIONALE
The following is a list of some of the reasons why a combination of the two
subcommittees is deemed necessary:

1. There are many overlapping issues that relate to hardware in both
subcommittees
2. There is evidence suggesting that ³Closed² is a generic description of an
attribute of E&IT, rather than a category of product.
3. As technology advances, and in particular convergence occurs between
computers, portable devices, and telecom, the lines are blurring between
what is considered a ³desktop and portable² computer and a ³self-containted
product². Today, even smaller portable devices could be considered
³computers² in that they have industry standard hardware interfaces, many
allow 3rd-party software to be loaded, and they run well-developed operating
systems.
4. It is difficult to do meaningful work within the subcommittees because
there is confusion over which subcommittee works on which issues.

CONCLUSION
The subcommittees should be combined.

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