On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 20:56, Andrew Ho wrote: > � Specifically, what are the benefits of inter-connecting distributed > systems via email messages instead of https, for example?
Because we *don't* have distributed systems. Interoperability of systems in Australia is very close to zero. All we can hope for at present is to exchange messages in some format most systems will understand (HL7), and the transport of these messages needs to be secured AND *users* (not necessarily systems) need to be authenticated. Horst -- "On two occasions I have been asked [by members of Parliament!], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage
