Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems & Infrastructure Problem -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (266)	3/23/1998 3:31:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Creating efficient and responsible utility companies Business Times Sun, Mar 23 1998 THE assurance last Tuesday by Tenaga Nasional Berhad's executive chairman Datuk Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali that the Millennium Bug is unlikely to cause a nationwide power failure could not have come at a more opportune time. Being a major utility company and one that depends heavily on the use of computers for the efficient delivery of electricity to consumers, TNB can least afford to take the problem lightly. By acting ahead of time, TNB is not only giving itself sufficient time to build defences agaist the threat but is creating a much needed comfort zone for its customers. guide-p.infoseek.com

To: John Mansfield who wrote (266)	3/23/1998 4:17:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 618

'The Real Y2K problem Is Ignored Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:06:50 -0600 From: fedinfo@halifax.com Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion Newsgroups: comp.software.year-2000 The potential failures of embedded systems in the year 2000 are monumental. Leon Kappelman, co-chair of the Society for Information Management's Year 2000 Working Group said, "this is potentially the most destructive part of the Year 2000 problem." Of the four billion microprocessors manufactured in 1996 alone, 90 percent -- 3.6 billion -- went into embedded systems. The sheer number may have stunned manufacturers into denial while the undeniable ubiquity complicates the task of debugging at the same time that it assures that nearly everyone with an electrical outlet will be adversely affected. While media attention has been focused on the desktop and the mainframe, little attention is being paid to embedded systems, the systems that run everything from nuclear power plants to pacemakers, aircraft, military weapons systems, alarms, elevators, microwave ovens, fax machines and most every other "smart" appliance and everyday item with a virtual IQ over 13. -------------- "Blood will run in the streets." "That's how Leon Kappelman describes the potential failures of embedded systems in the year 2000. He ought to know; he's co-chair of the Society for Information Management's Year 2000 Working Group. "This is potentially the most destructive part of the year-2000 problem," he says. " ------------ This is the pricipal reason that I believe that the remediation is futile. Mainstream hardware/software issues are only a small part of the real problem. While the dollar amounts being spent to remediate mainstream IT functions are colossal, the Embedded systems problem dwarfs it. On the whole, it is being completely ignored. <snip>

To: John Mansfield who wrote (266)	3/24/1998 5:38:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 618

' Elevators, fire control systems, security and air conditioning systems need checking, There appears to be no police or emergency response problems due to the millennium bug issue, say city and county officials, but there could be serious consequences in the health field if modifications are not finished by the end of next year. If nothing is done or if systems fail, patient monitoring systems could shut down, including ventilating machines, officials say. Elevators, fire control systems, security and air conditioning systems need checking, as well. The project could wind up costing millions. ''We have contacted all the manufacturers to see which models won't be compliant,'' said Dick Hutsell, a vice president with Catholic Heath Care West, which manages Mercy, Southwest Mercy, Memorial and San Joaquin Memorial hospitals in Bakersfield and 33 others. ''We are also going through the process of testing the modifications ourselves to determine for ourselves if there is a problem. ''There are some things we just can't do anything about until Jan. 1, 2000,'' Hutsell said. ''On some of the equipment clocks have to be physically reset. While everybody is out celebrating the new year, an army of technicians will be working in hospitals all night resetting those devices.'' kern.com