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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scott ross who wrote (2326)	7/31/1998 1:38:00 PM
From: C.K. Houston	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 9818

<The embedded problem - IMO - is vastly overstated.> *Tell these* guys they're much ado about nothing ..... "At each one of our factories there are catastrophic problems. Amazingly enough, machines on the factory floor are far more sensitive to incorrect dates than we ever anticipated. When we tested robotic devices for transition into the year 2000, for example, they just froze and stopped operating." RALPH SZYGENDA - GM CIO "Some plants will have trouble operating and will have to shut down. Some will run at a reduced scope I expect considerable system outages during December 1999 through February 2000." ROB BAXTER - HONEYWELL VP** ... Many embedded programs, however, can't be fixed at all because they are inscribed on silicon chips. In those cases, whole pieces of factory equipment, from time clocks to expensive computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, have to be junked and replaced. FORTUNE MAGAZINE pathfinder.com <Embedded systems are the least of our problem.> LOL - You should have had CSPAN on this AM for Bennett/Dodd Year 2000 Computer Problem Hearing which lasted about 3 hrs. Focus was on telecoms today. About 8-10 industry (not consulting firm) witnesses. The term "devices" (embedded systems) was used repeatedly in today's hearing. Bellcore had a great chart showing typical network ... with a multitude of inter-related devices which they highlighted in red wherever possible Y2K problems could occur. Lots of red dots. Even though the actual percentage of actual failure points (relating to embedded systems) is most likely small. If not found, fixed and/or replaced ... system fails. You don't think it's such a big problem but FED does. They're very worried about telecoms, utilities and medical devices. Senator Bennett wrapped up today's hearing recounting what had happened last week at Y2K Medical Device Hearing. A witness recounted holding a sheet of paper in his hand, from a manufacturer, which said a particular medical device was Y2K compliant ... as they set date forward and watched it fail. Same thing with another medical device, which was deemed Y2K compliant ... but when they set date forward ... it just stopped working. And, they were unable to re-set date and had to trash device. I spoke briefly with Congressman Horne about 6 weeks ago. He's looking for additional experienced, industry specific witnesses to present in front of his committee on embedded systems issues. Want me to send you his email address? He could use your reassurance. He and other committee members haven't gotten much good news lately. Cheryl P.S. Saw you posted " FCC says phone carriers crushing year 2000 bug [Reuters]" on Embedded System thread. Too bad you didn't catch hearing this morning. FCC head, when questioned further, wasn't quite as re-assurring as original article implied.