Clocks that Can't Cope
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Thursday April 16 5:45 PM EDT
Lawmakers worried about Year 2000
SACRAMENTO, April 16 (UPI) _ Wilson administration officials are still
trying to get a handle on the problem of computer clocks that can't cope
with the coming new millenium.
They said at a joint hearing of three legislative committees today that one
of the biggest problems is identifying the small, chip-sized microprocessors
that control, monitor, communicate or operate equipment.
Officials told lawmakers their internal clocks won't compute the year 2000
properly, causing malfunctions in elevator, heating, energy, traffic control
and other systems.
John Thomas Flynn, the state's information technology chief, and others say
the problem is getting an accurate inventory of the so-called embedded
systems, which depends in large part on vendors who supply state agencies.
The state has thousands of vendor contracts, and he says the vast majority
of them haven't reported for the inventory.
Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist, D-Santa Clara, said she still hasn't sensed an
urgency among those who are grappling with the problem.
Sen. Quentin Kopp, I-San Francisco, asked for a report to identify contracts
with suppliers, whether they're honoring them, and whether devices have been
identified.
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