Electrical engineering department,Heriot-Watt university,Edinburgh, UK

This review describes research work which is just starting in the Electrical Engineering Department of Heriot-Watt University. It is based on a directed-graph method of describing the structure of a computation, and as such can be equally applied to hardware and software. It is a computer aid to the logical and program designer, rather than to the drawing office and production department, like most present day digital c.a.d. systems. The project is based on the results of various workers, and much of this paper contains a summary of their work as a necessary introduction.It is possible to write a good many pages¹ on the lack of c.a.d. for computer designers: the shortest summary is to say that it is not possible to be sure what a normal hardware logic structure will do except by simulation or exhaustive tests. The alternatives for $\text{n}$ Boolean variables must have some relation to 2²ⁿ, a number which can rapidly outstrip any speed improvement in computer simulation as $\text{n}$ increases. Since programming uses hardware-built functions there is a similar effect, and once again the structure of a program is no guarantee of correct performance-exhaustive testing or whether exhaustive testing or machine simulation is needed. Lastly, since the design methods are so different for programs and logic there is a considerable interface problem.     

Active Ageing,Pensions and Retirement in the UK

The ageing population has led to increasing concerns about pensions and their future sustainability. Much of the dominant policy discourse around ageing and pension provision over the last decade has focussed on postponing retirement and prolonging employment. These measures are central to productive notions of ‘active ageing’. Initially the paper briefly sets out the pension developments in the UK. Then it introduces active ageing and active ageing policy, exploring its implications for UK pension provision. It demonstrates that a more comprehensive active ageing framework, which incorporates a life-course perspective, has the potential to assist the UK to respond to the challenges of an ageing population. In doing so it needs to highlight older people as an economic and social resource, and reduce barriers to older people’s participation in society.     

Strong support for UK ID card,says poll

Flying in the face of current political thinking, a recent poll has found that identity cards would be welcomed with open arms in the UK.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news