“…I found myself in the midst of a civilization that had advanced beyond all the great dreams of my forebears. I had thought my home would be a simple place for pastoral people, people who made their living from agriculture. But it was already a complex place, an iron and steel and railway and grain-exchange city, the gates to the prairie…”
— Saul Bellow, (Nobel Laureate 1976)
University of Chicago Facilities Services
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The MIL-SPEC catalog and its evolution have had a significant impact on various industries beyond the military sector. Many civilian industries have adopted military standards as a benchmark for quality, reliability, and compatibility in their products and processes.
World War II Era:
The MIL-SPEC system traces its roots back to the World War II era when the U.S. military faced challenges in coordinating manufacturing efforts across multiple suppliers. To address these challenges, the military began developing specifications and standards that detailed the requirements for various equipment and materials, including dimensions, materials, performance criteria, and testing procedures.
Post-World War II:
After World War II, the MIL-SPEC catalog expanded significantly to cover a wide range of military equipment, ranging from electronics and aircraft components to clothing and food supplies. The standards were continuously updated and revised based on technological advancements, lessons learned, and evolving military needs.
Evolution into MIL-STD:
In the 1950s and 1960s, the MIL-SPEC system evolved into the Military Standard (MIL-STD) system to provide even more comprehensive and detailed specifications. MIL-STD documents incorporated a broader scope of requirements, including design criteria, quality control processes, and test methodologies. The MIL-STD system aimed to ensure consistent design and manufacturing practices across contractors and suppliers.
MIL-STD Transition to Commercial Standards:
Over time, the reliance on MIL-STDs started to decline, and there was a shift towards adopting commercial standards whenever possible. This transition allowed the military to benefit from the advancements and cost efficiencies of commercial technologies. However, certain critical military-specific standards, such as those related to security and specialized equipment, continued to be maintained within the MIL-STD framework.
DoD’s Transition to Performance-Based Specifications:
In recent years, the DoD has been moving away from prescriptive specifications (MIL-STDs) towards performance-based specifications. Performance-based specifications focus on defining the desired outcomes and performance requirements while allowing contractors greater flexibility in meeting those requirements. This approach encourages innovation, cost-effectiveness, and broader industry participation in military contracts.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 4, 2024
Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society
Bibliography
“A Next Generation Smart Contract & Decentralized Application Platform” | Vitalik Buterin
“Fair and Robust Multi-Party Computation using a Global Transaction Ledger” | Aggelos Kiayias, Hong-Sheng Zhou, Vassilis Zikas
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Balloting on the first stage of development of the 2023 National Electrical Code is underway now and will be completed by March 26th. We collaborate with several experts in the IEEE who are the leading voices in standards setting for ICT infrastructure present in education communities. The issues are many and complex and fast-moving. We provide transcripts and a sample of the issues that will determine the substance of the 2023 Edition.
Code Making Panel No. 3 Public Input Report
A sample of concepts in play:
Temperature limitations of Class 2 and Class 3 Cables
Fire resistive cabling systems
Multi-voltage (single junction, entry, pathway or connection) signaling control relay equipment
Listing of audio/video power-limited circuits
Code Making Panel No. 16 Public Input Report
A sample of concepts in play:
Definition of “Communication Utility”
Mechanical execution of work
Listed/Unlisted cables entering buildings
Underground communication cabling coordination with the National Electrical Safety Code
Public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 revision will be received until August 24, 2024. We collaborate with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which hosts open colloquia 4 times monthly in European and American time zones. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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