To: pat mudge who wrote (27570 ) 10/21/1997 1:34:00 PM From: Bob Frasca Read Replies (6) | Respond to of 31386
[Chat - Y2K stocks] Hi Pat: A few months back, maybe longer, you and I engaged in a brief discussion regarding ZITL and so called, Y2K solutions. The following press release is, in this humble coders opinion, the REAL deal. My guess is that Y2K stocks are going to tumble if they haven't already. The solution is simple and, in a manner of speaking, elegant. Bob Tuesday October 21 9:31 AM EDT Company Press Release Year 2000 Solution Fits Inside Compilers ENCINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1997--People know that 99 + 1 = 100. But computers don't. This simple difference has caused the $600 billion Year 2000 computer problem that threatens to cripple businesses and governments. Most computer programs store years as only two digits and add 1900 to those digits. 1983 is stored as 83 and 2000 is stored as 00. But computers understand 00 as 1900. Current thinking is that more digits need to be added to hold the century. Otherwise, the computer must ''guess.'' Both of these methods (expansion and windowing) require significant program changes. David and william Lappen, brothers involved in computer technology for more than 20 years each, have applied for a patent on a method that promises to virtually eliminate the Year 2000 problem. Its premise is that there's no need to change the old programs or databases. The problem is really that the computer gives the wrong answer when it adds 99 and 1. This can be solved by making some small changes to the way computers represent numbers. More than 90 percent of the energy and expense needed to implement and test a Year 2000 solution can be saved, and errors virtually eliminated. There is room in two digits to store more than the traditional 100 numbers. Instead of changing application code, by telling computers how to store additional digits in the same space, the problem can be automatically fixed. This requires no changes to programs or databases. Technical details of the ''19T0'' Solution can be found on the Internet site, 19t0.com or can be obtained via e-mail or fax. IBM has recently given credence to the concept that compilers can greatly assist in solving the Year 2000 problem. Their Millennium Language Extension (MLE) implements fixed windowing in compilers. But, it requires programmers to identify which variables are to be ''windowed'' and what the cutoffs are. The 19T0 Solution doesn't require either of these. Additionally, windowing is not appropriate for banking, insurance and government where ages over 100 are represented. The 19T0 Solution can represent well over 150 years in two position variables. This makes it suitable for these industries. Other compiler manufacturers (such as Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corp., Unisys, Microsoft) can implement the 19T0 Solution in their compilers and offer their customers an automatic solution to the Year 2000 problem. Instead of hiring tens of thousands of programmers to comb through billions of lines of code, businesses and governments just need to get updated compilers that automatically implement the 19T0 Solution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact: 19T0 Solutions, Encino William Lappen, 818/789-6531