Rick, here are some more interesting things from the article I linked in my last post
link: www2.computerworld.com
"Corporate America is disturbingly
behind schedule in dealing with the
year 2000," Woodward said last
month.
"After nearly three years of tracking
corporate response to the year 2000
problem, we would have expected to
see significantly more firms with
detailed plans in place by now."
Martin, president of Data Dimensions, Inc., estimates that Fortune 500 organizations will each have to spend about 35 cents to 40 cents per line of code to convert all of their existing systems to accept the change from the year 1999 to 2000.
"This translates into about $50 million to $100 million for each company...."
July 1997: Estimated cost per line of code (from Technology
Management Reports, a San Diego-based research firm) based on
when a company begins its date-change conversion work:
1st half of 1998: $1.75
2nd half of 1998: $2.35
1st half of 1999: $2.95
2nd half of 1999: $3.65
1st half of 2000: $4
So, what could go wrong?
Here's a short list of things that could break down come Jan. 1, 2000, if warnings aren't heeded:
Microwave ovens
City lighting systems
Air traffic control
The world's telephone systems
Delivery of goods
Delivery of bills
Delivery of government checks
Automated teller machines
Other predictions include...
Deaths in hospitals (Mike Smith, a
doctor/computer expert in England, last month
told The London Times that a 10% compliance
failure rate will result in 600 to 1,500 deaths.)
Elevators will drop to the bottoms of buildings
Computerized sprinkler systems could ice your
lawn in midwinter
And last but certainly not least: A worldwide recession
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More than three-quarters of surveyed
companies have changed their
approach to the problem since they
started.
Changed 77%
Not changed 23%
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Four out of five companies have been
underestimating their year 2000 costs.
Estimates are too low 82%
Estimates are too high 12%
Estimates are on target 2%
Don't know 4%
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During 1997, firms increasingly
perceived a need for more staff.
(Percent indicating "yes" to various
staffing issues)
April 1997 45%
August 1997 60%
December 1997 72%
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