Re: Embedded Systems-Bigger Problem than Legacy Systems
(From news:comp.software.year-2000)
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Craig Dillon wrote:
>
> Few people have talked about the Embedded Systems problem and Y2K.
> This is unfortunate because it is a much bigger problem.
Indeed it is! The companies I have worked with have found that their embedded systems fixes will cost 6 to 15 times more than their IT systems.
I haven't heard a recent figure, but 6 months or so ago, some DoD was information said that their C3I systems would cost 7.5 to 8.75 times more per LOC to fix than their AIS systems.
And that's a whole lot of peanuts folks!
The real problem is almost no one is even considering their embedded systems -- they are so busy on their IT systems, they can't seem to take an objective look at the REAL problem. Rick Cowles said it best:
"It's time for the non-IT sector of the electric utility business to get out of denial, and start understanding and accepting the scope of this problem. The Year 2000 issue within the electric utility industry is so much deeper than financial control, customer service, billing, and load forcasting systems. This problem has the potential to cut to the core of your business: generating and distributing power. If your company can not generate power, it can't generate revenue, either. If your company can not distribute the electricity it buys or generates, it can't distribute quarterly dividends. Here's what I'm trying to say: if your business systems are functional, but your transmission and generation assets are not, who cares? Business systems are useless if your company can't generate and distribute its product. Your company must start looking at its embedded controls and infrastructure now. You can't wait until December, 1999 to begin this task. It's not an issue of complexity, rather, it's an issue of scale."
(Quoted from: euy2k.com
His point that (paraphrased) "if you can't make product to sell, then
your IT systems are useless" hits the nail on the head! THE CEO, PRESIDENT, AND CIO OF EVERY COMPANY THAT PRODUCES PRODUCT NEEDS TO HAVE THIS ENGRAVED ON THEIR FOREHEAD! Then maybe people will start to get the message!
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