Preface

The computer related industry has become one of the largest sectors in the world. As our dependence on computer systems grows, dependable computing has become of increasing importance in our daily life. The consequence of a computer failure can lead to loss of human life or a significant economic impact. For examples, as the result of a computer clock failure, the American Patriot system missed a scud missile that hit an American military barracks in Dhahran during the Gulf War, killing 29 and injuring 97. The explosion of the Ariane 5 launcher and the destruction of its payload on 4th June 1996 was caused by a software fault. Due to an unchecked overflow of an 16-bit counter, $32 billion overdraft was experience by the Bank of New York which led to a loss of $5 million in interests. In South Africa, computer failures have also caused serious financial losses. The failure of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's automated trading system on 22nd July 1996 (the second time that month) cost the JSE hundreds of millions of Rands in trade -- only R56m was traded versus the average daily trade of R400m.

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:

The workshop proceedings include three tutorials, five invited keynote addresses and 11 reviewed regular papers. The contributions come from Austria (1), Brazil (4), Finland (1), France (3), Japan (1), South Africa (4), United Kingdom (1), United States (3), and United States/Lithuania (1).

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