At 10:19 PM -0500 1/26/02, Valdis(_dot_)Kletnieks(_at_)vt(_dot_)edu wrote:
I have in my bedroom a night light, which I purchased at a local
grocery store. It has a UL logo on it, which doesn't tell me much
about its suitability as a night light (I can't tell if it's bright
enough, or if it's too bright, or what its power consumption is),
but it *does* tell me 2 things:
1) It has been *tested* and found free of any known safety design problems.
It may not *work* as a night light, but it won't shock me when I go to
throw it in the trash can because it's not suitable.
2) A high enough percentage of night light manufacturers get UL listed
that I can afford to be suspicious of any company that doesn't have
the logo on their product.
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that was
founded in 1894. This
<http://www.ul.com/about/otm/otmv3n2/labdata.htm>article describes
the process UL uses for developing their standards. Many UL
standards receive ANSI certification. According to the article, UL
relies on information from a number of sources while developing a
standard.
UL tests products submitted by its customers for *conformance* to its
standards. UL's reputation depends on the rigor and independence of
their testing. I don't know how it costs to submit a product for
testing, but obtaining UL certification isn't free. UL's
certification program is successful, because when consumers like
Valdis (and me) see a UL label, they believe in its value. As Valdis
points out, the value of the label has limits.
Certification isn't the work of a volunteer organization like the
IETF. It could be the work of an organization like Underwriters
Labs. This would be a good thing for Internet standards, imho.
One idea proposed multiple times in this meandering discussion is
that those advocating testing should put up or shut up -- create a
testing organization or move on to other topics. I concur with both
those suggestions. I'm sure you'll all be pleased this is my last
word on the topic.
best,
--
john noerenberg
jwn2(_at_)qualcomm(_dot_)com
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While the belief we have found the Answer can separate us
and make us forget our humanity, it is the seeking that continues
to bring us together, the makes and keeps us human.
-- Daniel J. Boorstin, "The Seekers", 1998
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