Trapped on Technology's Trailing Edge

Keeping aging systems on their feet is a daunting and resource-intensive task. … Although mundane in its simplicity, the inevitable depletion of crucial components as systems age has sweeping, potentially life-threatening consequences. At the very least, the quest for an obsolete part can escalate into an unexpected, budget-busting expense. Electronics obsolescence–also known as DMSMS, for diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages–is a huge problem for designers who build systems that must last longer than the next cycle of technology. For instance, by the time the U.S. Navy began installing a new sonar system in surface ships in 2002, more than 70% of the system’s electronic parts were no longer being made. And it’s not just the military …

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