1995 DOD SBIR very barely mentions Ada

[srctran@world.std.com (Gregory Aharonian)]

   Once again, the DoD sends out a clear signal about its apathy towards Ada.
Yes, it is my review of the annual SBIR program solicitation, the 1995 guide
which I just received.  What follows is a list of 42 of the projects for
which software is a significant component, AND AGAIN FOR THE N-TH YEAR IN A
ROW, ADA IS BARELY MENTIONED.  Out of the 42 projects, only one explicitly
mentions Ada (and hilariously so - it is not for software engineering but for
some chemical measuring instrument).  Another proposal explicitly mentions
Fortran, while all the others mention no language, many of which can be done
as easily in Ada as any other language.

   But once again, the DoD blows an opportunity to help promote Ada.  I mean,
the apathy is so great that they didn't even bother to put in a statement for
these projects as weak and limpid as the following:

	"Proposals that use Ada will be viewed more favorably".

Not that the proposals have to use Ada (as if there was a Mandate existing),
or that the proposers know how to spell Ada, but just that the DoD might give
Ada proposals more attention.  Whatever, because of the DoD's apathy to Ada,
like many other SBIRs, this current guide is nearly Ada-free - a clear signal
that the majority of the DoD has no intention of paying attention to the Ada
Mandate.  It is these types of exploratory projects that are allowed to be
done in any language that grow into systems that aren't in Ada.

   Even worse, last year when I pointed this out in the 1994 SBIR, Don Reifer
and many others at DISA tripped all over themselves promising that this would
never happen again, that future SBIRs would include Ada for all relevant 
software projects.  Nice lie.

   Talk all you want about how much you all love Ada and the Ada Mandate, but
your actions (or inactions) speak much louder.

Greg Aharonian
                              ====================

            List of software related titles from the 1995 DOD SBIR


	NAVY

Exploiting Chaos for Signal Processing

Automatic Data Fusion Display

Wavelet Techniques for Compression of Acoustics Processing Signals

Virtual Reality

Intelligent Interface for Mission Rehearsal

Automated Feature Extrusion for Photo-real Perspective Scenes

Quick Response Terrain Visualization

Spatial Acoustic Sound for Virtual Environment Applications

Advanced Automatic Test System Resources

Combat System Interface Simulation

Low Light Level Color Imaging with Image Processing

Develop Active/Passive Data Fusion Operator Associate

Radar Simulation for MSDOS

	AIR FORCE

New Chemometric Techniques for Analytical Chemistry and Sensor Data (Ada)

Automated Instructional Environments

C4I Systems/Subsystems

Business Process Reengineering Tools

Innovative C3I Technologies

Signal Processing for Information Enhancement

Multisensor Fusion Processing

AI/Expert System Pre-Processor for Computational Electromagnetics

Large Scale Computing System Failure Effect Analyzer

Event Representation for Advanced Techniques in Information Processing

Information Extraction from Text Through Application of Advanced Techniques

High Performance Intelligent Information Systems

System/Software Quality

Advanced Visualization Techniques for Parallel Software Development

Real-Time Pattern Recognition using Compressed Video

Composite Mission Simulator

Standard Multispectral Environment Represenations within Software Structural
Model Framework

Electronic Design Automation

Modeling and Simulation of MMICs and Interconnects in Microwave Packages

Training Fire Fighters Through Virtual Reality Applications

Engineering Flight Simulator Technologies

Internal Real-Time Distributed Object Management System

Integrated Tools for Technology Assessment and Development Planning

Automated Methodology for Balancing Avionics Requirements and LCC

Model Integration through Intelligent Data Parsing and Management

Efficient Methods for Finite Element Data Storage (Fortran)

Anechoic Chamber Computer Software Model Simulation

Large Volume, High Speed, Data Management Technology

	BMDO

Computer Architecture, Algorithms, and Language