FROM THE ANALYSTS: Is information technology change good? Two different takes on the subject of IT change.(Column)

If you're reading this magazine, you're probably not a Luddite. You probably believe that technology change is inevitable and generally also good. I bought a new PC this week that came with a shocking two gigs of RAM, so I'm right there with you.

But a couple of new analyst studies this week cast doubt on the notion that information technology change is good. A report from New York-based Frost & Sullivan, for example, explains that automation-software vendors in Europe are facing a challenging task as they try to convince factory- floor users there to upgrade from legacy Programmable Logic Controllers to more modern HMI (Human Machine Interface) and SCADA (Supervisory …