Infotech 400

Loading
loading...

Infotech 400

June 2, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

No Comments

Lorem ipsum


File: July 22, 2024

“Though I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet,

yet I venture to predict that before the end of the century

many a person who now reads this page will receive a flash of intelligence

from some other mortal thousands of miles distant,”

“The Telegraph and the Press”

—  Charles F. Briggs (New York Herald, 1844)

(c) The New Yorker

 

Today we break down the literature for building, maintaining and supporting the computing infrastructure of education settlements.  We use the term “infotech” gingerly to explain action for a  broad span of technologies that encompass enterprise servers and software, wireless and wired networks, campus phone networks, and desktop computers that provide administrative services and career tech video production.   The private sector has moved at light speed to respond to the circumstances of the pandemic; so have vertical incumbents evolving their business models to seek conformance revenue.  Starting 2023 we break down the topic accordingly:

Infotech 200:  Wired and wireless infrastructure for education and administration related to teaching sciences and supporting fine and lively arts

Infotech 400:  Physical system middleware for research facilities; data center location, power supply, cooling systems, fire suppression, security, monitoring and management.

The literature radiates continually by consortia, open-source, or ad hoc standards-setting domains rather than the private standards system administered by global and standards setting bodies; to wit:

International:

IEC (EN 50600), IET, ISO, ITU

Freely Available ICT Standards

IEEE

Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology Committee

United States:

ASHRAE

Energy Standard for Data Centers

ATIS

BICSI

Data Center Operations and Maintenance Best Practices

INCITS, NFPA, NIST, TIA (942)

Everywhere else:

3GPP & 3GPP2,  Apache Software Foundation,  ISTE,  OneM2M,  Uptime Institute

The ICT domain is huge, replacing physical libraries.  The foregoing is a highly curated sample.

We continue to include teaching and learning media standards on our colloquia however it is likely that will break up this topic into at least two related colloquia as 2022 proceeds; with primary focus on the design, construction and maintenance of the physical ICT infrastructure.  Much depends upon the interest of our clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.  We collaborate closely with the IEEE Education and Healthcare Electrotechnology Committee.

Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

"One day ladies will take their computers for walks in the park and tell each other, "My little computer said such a funny thing this morning" - Alan Turing

A Study of Children’s Password Practices

Standing Agenda / Infotech 200

Readings:

“The Proposed Union of the Telegraph and Postal Systems” 1869 | Western Union Telegraph Company

“Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals” 1938 | Alan Turing, Princeton University

 

 

Innovation and Competitiveness in Artificial Intelligence

June 2, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

No Comments

The International Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is requesting public comments to gain insights on the current global artificial intelligence (AI) market. Responses will provide clarity about stakeholder concerns regarding international AI policies, regulations, and other measures which may impact U.S. exports of AI technologies. Additionally, the request for information (RFI) includes inquiries related to AI standards development. ANSI encourages relevant stakeholders to respond by ITA’s deadline of October 17, 2022.

Fueling U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness in AI: Respond to International Trade Administration’s Request for Information

Commerce Department Launches the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee

 

Image

print(“Python”)

June 2, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
, , , ,
No Comments

Active Python Releases

 

“Python is the programming equivalent

of a Swiss Army Knife.”

— Some guy

 

The Python Standard Library

Open source standards development is characterized by very open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency and meritocracy.   The Python programming language is a high-level, interpreted language that is widely used for general-purpose programming. Python is known for its readability, simplicity, and ease of use, making it a popular choice for beginners and experienced developers alike.  Python has a large and active community of developers, which has led to the creation of a vast ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that can be used for a wide range of applications. These include web development, scientific computing, data analysis, machine learning, and more.

Another important aspect of Python is its versatility. It can be used on a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even mobile devices. Python is also compatible with many other programming languages and can be integrated with other tools and technologies, making it a powerful tool for software development.  Overall, the simplicity, readability, versatility, and large community support of Python make it a valuable programming language to learn for anyone interested in software development including building automation.

As open source software, anyone may suggest an improvement to Python(3.X) starting at the link below:

Python Enhancement Program

Python Download for Windows

Python can be used to control building automation systems. Building automation systems are typically used to control various systems within a building, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security, and more. Python can be used to control these systems by interacting with the control systems through the building’s network or other interfaces.

There are several Python libraries available that can be used for building automation, including PyVISA, which is used to communicate with instrumentation and control systems, and PyModbus, which is used to communicate with Modbus devices commonly used in building automation systems. Python can also be used to develop custom applications and scripts to automate building systems, such as scheduling temperature setpoints, turning on and off lights, and adjusting ventilation systems based on occupancy or other variables. Overall, Python’s flexibility and versatility make it well-suited for use in building automation systems.

Subversion®

Building Automation & Control Networks

Artificial Intelligence

June 2, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
No Comments

INCITS 594-202x: Information technology — Framework for Managing Unique Risks from Frontier AI

 

In development (20 percent completed):  This standard will describe a framework for managing the unique risks to public safety and security from frontier AI models and systems. In particular, the standard will focus on managing risks that can materialize with such scale, severity, velocity and irreversibility that they necessitate more specialized or extensive risk management approaches than those specified in existing AI risk management standards, such as ISO/IEC 23894, 42001, and 42005. In light of those standards, this standard will primarily address elements of risk management across the risk management lifecycle that warrant additional treatment given the unique risk profile of frontier AI models and systems.

 


File: May 14, 2019

{Click on image for more information)

The International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) — an ANSI accredited standards developing organization — is the forum of choice for information technology (IT) developers, producers and users for the creation and maintenance of formal de jure IT standards.   The INCITS’ mission is to promote the effective use of Information and Communication Technology through standardization in a way that balances the interests of all stakeholders and increases the global competitiveness of the member organizations.   INCITS seeks to broaden its membership base in the following categories:

• Service Providers

• Users

• Standards Development Organizations and Consortia

• Academic Institutions*

In this week’s ANSI Standards Action (Page 28) and has renewed its invitation to the foregoing stakeholders.

The INCITS Executive Board serves as the consensus body with oversight of its 40+ Technical Committees. Additionally, the INCITS Executive Board has the international leadership role as the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information Technology. Membership in the INCITS Executive Board is open to all directly and materially affected parties in accordance with INCITS membership rules.   To find out more about participating on the INCITS Executive Board, contact Jennifer Garner at jgarner@itic.org or visit http://www.incits.org/participation/membership-info for more information.

 

— Originally posted January 15, 2018

 


 

Meeting Notice and Call for Members for the New INCITS Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence (US TAG to JTC 1/SC 42) Organizational Meeting – January 30-31, 2018.  The 1.5 day organizational meeting of INCITS/Artificial Intelligence will be held January 30 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and January 31, 2018 (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM).  The meeting will be hosted by Google in Mountain View or Sunnyvale, California. While face-to-face participation is strongly encouraged, WebEx participation will be available for those not able to attend in person. The agenda, details on the meeting venue, related documents and instructions for joining the WebEx meeting will be distributed to organizational representatives requesting membership on the new committee.

Scope of JTC 1/SC 42:  

Serve as the focus and proponent for JTC 1’s standardization program on Artificial Intelligence

Provide guidance to JTC 1, IEC, and ISO committees developing Artificial Intelligence applications

The INCITS committee will operate under the ANSIaccredited procedures for the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS); (see INCITS Organization, Policies and Procedures). Additional information can also be found at http://www.incits.org/participation/membership-info.  

Many standards developing organizations, open source consortia and ad hoc workgroups are competing in this space.  Here are a few links to organizations with whom we collaborate routinely; a list that will likely need to expand quickly:

ANSI Standards Action Notice (Page 31)

IEEE Standards Association

IEEE Education & Healthcare Committee

BICSI

* Comment from Standards Michigan: Keep in mind that when the global standards federation claims that “academia is involved” the presence of a subject matter expert directly employed by an educational institution does not necessarily add balance to materially affected stakeholders generally required in global standards setting systems.  Very often, academic faculty are proxies for manufacturers, insurance, and conformance bodies that retain their expertise on a per-project basis.  As we explain in ABOUT the true user/owner/final fiduciary (in all nations and among all standards developing organizations) is the weakest voice in the standards setting process.   This weakness is not the fault of individual standards setting organizations but a weakness seen in all participatory democracy.   The influence of the user/owner/final fiduciary may be affected through consumer market price signals at the farthest end of the supply chain.

Bias and Fairness in Large Language Models

June 2, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

No Comments
https://thebrandhopper.com/2020/11/13/marketing-concept-diffusion-of-innovation/
In the early stages of a new technology, innovation is fluid, experimental, and highly uncertain. Multiple competing designs, architectures, and approaches coexist as inventors, startups, and firms explore possibilities. Without established standards, there is no dominant design—products vary widely in features, interfaces, and performance.  This “pre-standard” or “ferment” phase fuels rapid, radical innovation.  Engineers iterate quickly, creativity thrives, and breakthroughs emerge through trial-and-error.

 

However, fragmentation creates compatibility issues, high risk for adopters, and market confusion. Investment is speculative, and many early solutions eventually fail. Only after a dominant design or technical standard wins (through market forces, regulation, or consensus) does the industry stabilize. Innovation then shifts from product architecture to incremental improvements, manufacturing efficiency, and complementary services. The early chaotic period, though messy, is essential—it determines which technologies shape the future.

 

Today we sort through the literature on the stabilization of American English as the de-facto “Language of the Internet” and the Artificial Intelligence zietgeist

Readings: Bias and Fairness in Large Language Models


The Buttery

June 1, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

Net Position 2025: £282 million

Grounds and Facilities Virtual Tour

As with many Tudor-era buildings the result of Lady Margaret Beaufort patronage, there is no named architect. The Great Gate, the First Court, the Chapel and the surrounding ranges were designed “on the fly” by stonemasons at the job site.

§

The Two Cultures - Wikipedia

§

For the 2021/22 cohort alone international students generated ~£41.9bn in benefits (tuition, living expenses, visitor spending) against £4.4bn in public service costs — a £37.4bn net benefit (benefit-cost ratio ~9.4:1). This equates to ~£560 per UK resident or £466 extra per working adult annually. They cross-subsidise UK students and research (domestic fees are frozen in real terms), support jobs in university towns, and boost exports. At places like Christ’s College, ~1/3 of undergraduates are international, helping sustain operations.

Economic: The money helps universities and local economies short-term, but doesn’t fix low UK productivity, skills gaps, or stagnant wages in non-university sectors. Many internationals return home after studies (or via the Graduate route), so long-term innovation/entrepreneurship spillovers are limited. Over-reliance risks vulnerability if numbers drop (as seen with recent policy changes).

Social/Housing/NHS: Rapid growth (post-2019 surge) adds pressure on housing stock, especially in student cities — contributing to shortages and higher rents in some areas. They pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and use fewer services than averages, but the scale strains local infrastructure.

Cultural: They enrich campuses with diversity and global perspectives, but rapid inflows can challenge social cohesion, integration, or a sense of shared national identity in some communities. Public opinion is mostly positive on a person-by-person basis but, taken en-mass, England-born English are wary — on now openly hostile — toward overall migration volumes.

Universities excel at education and soft power (future global leaders with UK ties), but they are not designed as primary tools for fixing domestic policy failures like planning laws, welfare design, or skills training. These require broader government action beyond attracting “aspirational” fee-payers.

G

Grounds and Facilities

Lingua Franca

June 1, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

Plain Writing Act of 2010

White House: Designating English as the Official Language of The United States

2026 National Electrical Code Article 100 Definitions Public Input Transcript (Definitions)

2026 National Electrical Code Article 100 Definitions Public Comment Transcript (Definitions)


“The English genius is essentially eclectic;

it borrows from everywhere and from every time.”

— Peter Ackroyd | 2004  Albion: the origins of the English imagination

“The Tower of Babel” 1563 | Pieter Bruegel the Elder

 

“Wer von Fremdsprachen nichts versteht, kennt seine eigenen nichts.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Disagree with someone and cannot persuade them?  Do you need to hide your intransigence or ulterior motive? Then change the basis of discussion by changing the subject with a different definition.

This happens routinely in political discourse and rather frequently in best practice discovery and promulgation in building construction and settlement infrastructure standards[1].  Assuming all parties are negotiating in good faith resolution may lie in agreement on a common understanding of what a satisfying agreement might look like.

Admittedly, a subtle and challenging topic outside our wheelhouse[2] hence the need to improve our organization of this topic starting with today’s colloquium; with follow on sessions every month.

Starting 2025 we will organize our approach to this topic, thus:

Language 100.  Survey of linguistic basics for developing codes, standards and regulations.  Many vertical incumbents have developed their own style manuals

Language 200.  Electrotechnical vocabulary

Language 300.  Architectural and Allied trade vocabulary

Language 400.  The language of government regulations; the euphemisms of politicians with influence over the built environment

Language 500.  Advanced topics such as large language models or spoken dialects such as “High Michigan” — arguably, the standard American dialect where it applies to the standards listed above.

Naming & Signs


It may not be obvious how profound the choice of words and phrases have on leading practice discovery and promulgation.  For example, “What is Gender” determines the number, placement and functionality of sanitary technologies in housing, hospitals and sporting.   The United States has a Supreme Court justice that cannot define “woman”

As always, we will respond to public consultation opportunities wherever we can find them.  Some organizations are better than this than others.

Large Language Models

Glossary: Education

Examples of Variations in Translations of Homer’s Odyssey

Banished Words 2025 (And words that refuse to be banished)

Today we limit our discussion to language changes in the catalogs of ANSI-accredited standards developers whose titles have the most influence over the interoperability of safety and sustainability technologies that create and sustain the built environment of educational settlements.

American Institute of Architects: Definitions for Building Performance 

ASHRAE International

Language Proficiency

International Code Council

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

National Fire Protection Association

Qu’est-ce qu’une nation?

Using tasks in language teaching

print(“Python”)

Love and Mathematics

The Guy Who Over-Pronounces Foreign Words

Every building construction discipline has its own parlance and terms of art.

This is enough for a one-hour session and, depending upon interest, we will schedule a breakout session outside of our normal “daily” office hours.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΕΣ

Starting 2024 and running into 2025 we will break down this topic further, starting with construction contract language — Lingua Franca 300:

“Standard” History

History of the English Speaking Peoples

Language Proficiency

Geomatics

Large Language Models

Travels with the Sundry Folk

Reflections on the verb “to be”

Banished Words 2025 (And words that refuse to be banished)

Forbidden Words

Using tasks in language teaching

William Tyndale: The Father of Modern English

“Music does an end run around language” — James Taylor

Electropedia: The World’s Online Electrotechnical Vocabulary

Standard Definition: “Developing” Country

The Guy Who Over-Pronounces Foreign Words

ANSI Acronymn Dictionary

Footnotes:

(1) The United States government defines a “Green Building” as a building that has been designed, constructed, and operated in a way that reduces or eliminates negative impacts on the environment and occupants. The government has established various standards and certifications that buildings can achieve to be considered “green.”

The most widely recognized green building certification in the United States is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). To achieve LEED certification, a building must meet certain standards related to sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

In addition to the LEED certification, there are other programs and standards that can be used to measure and certify the sustainability of buildings, such as the Green Globes rating system and the Living Building Challenge.

Overall, the goal of green building is to create buildings that are not only environmentally sustainable but also healthier, more comfortable, and more efficient for occupants, while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting green building practices, the U.S. government aims to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment and move towards a more sustainable future.

(2) The U.S. Green Building Council is a conformance organization.  See the discussion our ABOUT for background on incumbent stakeholders.

Summer Swoon

June 1, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
No Comments

This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.

Ghana’s Rabbit Industry

June 1, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
, , , , ,
No Comments

Like many folk traditions of saying “Rabbit, rabbit” to your colleagues on the first day of the month has an unclear origin and has several variations and interpretations.  We use it a reason to explore university research into food sources; the proper business of education communities everywhere.  In one version of the tradition, saying “Rabbit, rabbit” or “White rabbit” as the first words upon waking on the first day of the month is believed to bring good luck for the rest of that month. It is thought to ensure good fortune, happiness, and general positivity throughout the coming weeks.

The specific origins and reasons behind this tradition are difficult to trace, as superstitions often evolve and are passed down through generations. It’s worth noting that this practice is not universally known or followed, and its popularity may vary among different regions and communities.  Ultimately, the saying “Rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the month is an example of a charming and whimsical superstition that some individuals enjoy participating in as a fun way to start the month on a positive note.

Codex Alimentarius

Bulletin Board

June 1, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
No Comments


 

NIST | USPTO | ANSI | IEEE | ICC | ASTM | ASHRAE | UL | TIA | ASME | ASCE | AGA

Michigan Standards Developers : NSF | ACI | NETA | ASABE | HL7 | RIA | JCSEE | BIFMA | PJRFSI | SAE

Global: SA | BSA | NSAI | CSA | CEN & CENELEC | ISO & IEC*


 

APPA was founded at the University of Michigan| See our ABOUT

 

 


* ISO and IEC have opted out of the X-social media platforms.  FYI: X is 13 times the size of BlueSky in terms of scale and reach.

Layout mode
Predefined Skins
Custom Colors
Choose your skin color
Patterns Background
Images Background
Standards Michigan
error: Content is protected !!
Skip to content