The 1998 IFIP International Workshop on Dependable Computing and its Applications aims at providing a forum for international and South African scientists and engineers to present their latest research findings and application experience and to promote research and application in this rapidly developing field in South Africa. We are very lucky to have the 1998 IFIP WG10.4 meeting to be held from 15 to 17 January in Cape Town, which makes it possible for us to invite a number of top international experts in dependable computing to give tutorials and invited talks to the workshop in Johannesburg.
The main topics of this workshop include:
It is the first time the newly established research Programme for Highly Dependable Systems (PHDS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is hosting an international workshop on dependable computing. It would not have been possible without the help and support of many organisations and individuals. I would like to thank the South African Foundation for Research Development (FRD), the University of the Witwatersrand, and The Internet Solution for sponsoring the event. I would like to thank Prof. Hermann Kopetz and Dr. Jean-Claude Laprie for the co-ordination of the workshop in Johannesburg and the WG10.4 meeting in Cape Town. Prof. Mario Dal Cin assisted me with his experience in organising the previous WG10.4 meeting in Germany. Prof. Robert Baber, Ms Vashti Galpin, Dr. Scott Hazelhurst, Dr. Philip Machanick and Dr. Conrad Mueller in PHDS have contributed their best efforts to ensure everything goes well. My thanks also go to Mrs. Lesley Stephenson and Mr. Lance Pompe for their administrative and technical support.
I would like to give a special word of thanks to Prof. Jacob A. Abraham, Prof. Dan C. Marinescu and Dr. David Powell for giving tutorials, and Dr. Jean Arlat, Prof. Algirdas Avizienis, Prof. Hirokazu Ihara, Prof. Hermann Kopetz, and Dr. Jean-Claude Laprie for giving invited talks. I would also like to thank all authors and reviewers for their contributions which have made this event a reality.
Yinong Chen