The Intel Pentium Issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Intel Pentium Issue - search ExampleHowever, the microprocessors flow in calculating long divisions causes minor errors not usually noticeable to almost calculating machine users. For example, the accurate answer for a division equation should be 2.345678, simply P5 will line up up with the answer of 2.345699. (1) The error is very minor, come to think of it, and Intel testers have realized and reported this hassle to the Intel managers even before the microprocessor was released in the market that year. However, there was no significant reaction from the Intel managers to resolve the coming back because no one would really notice the slight error. Months after, math professor doubting Thomas Nicely of Lynchburg College sight an error during the calculation of reciprocals of a large collection of prime numbers on his Pentium-based computer. (2) The professor wrote to Intel but did not receive any response from them, which prompted him to post on the internet about the iss ue. It then became a global issue against the corporation. Obviously, bylaws septenary and night club of the IEEE code of ethics were broken in various ways. Bylaw nine states that every member of a corporation must, in all cases avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action. (3) Intel failed to act along this bylaw by deciding to release the flawed go off in the market despite previously knowing of its problem. Furthermore, Intels decision to replace processors would have resolved a big chunk of the problem had they not insisted the customers to prove their eligibility for that. Intel should have taken into consideration that several of the Pentium-based computer users invested their hard-earned dollars for the device. It is very true that Intel would not intentionally desire harming the customers by the defective chip, however, even minor errors could make a motion the customers in several ways. For example, those who deal with nu mbers on a regular basis like brokers, economists, or even bankers would require accuracy in every number calculation that they do. Even professors like Thomas Nicely and drug companies who tests new drugs could be adversely affected by what Intel deemed as slight error. Additionally, bylaw seven states that every member of corporations must exhaust all means to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technological snuff it, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contribution of others. (3) When Intel testers informed the managers of the problem, the response did not go along what is stated in bylaw seven. They refused to admit making the mistake because it would definitely cause their company to lose millions of dollars. It was a total act of dishonesty to hope that the users of the newly released chip would not notice the flaw. It appears as if the managers refractory to disregard the issue until problems become obvious. Doing this placed several user s of the Pentium-based computers at the risk of putting their crucial work at the hands of a flawed device covered-up by dishonesty. Had Intel decided to act under the guidepost provided by bylaw ten, the global issue against the company would not have happened. Bylaw ten states that