Standardization trends for communication interfaces and protocols

A few major characteristics of standards and standardization are indicated: what they are, how they are developed, and why and by whom they are needed. The emphasis is on the situation in Western Europe. Four groups of related influences are defined which initiated certain reactions of official and private organizations as well as of political parties and of industries. The requirements for more, more complicated, earlier, and harmonized standards and for conformance of products to these standards are discussed