The Millennium Bomb
by
Sonia Baird

     Governments, hospitals, insurers, stock markets, and other organisations worldwide are facing the potentially catastrophic impact of computer systems failing to recognise the year 2000. At midnight on December 31,1999, the digital clock may cause all computer systems to crash.

     Governments are expecting that all companies expose their plans for the year 2000, including an appraisal of the risks and costs involving the issue. Some governments around the world are threatening company directors who refuse to submit information concerning the crisis, as being liable and possibly charged. Stock markets and insurance companies are attempting to devise trustworthy strategies. Some insurance companies are discovering ways to protect themselves against the possible impact, by not insuring the effects of the crisis.

     Hospitals are facing tremendous risk concerning the millennium bomb. Heart monitoring equipment, kidney dialysis machines, accounting software, patient waiting lists, certain medical files, and even elevators will be affected. Hundreds of thousnds of people could die as a result of a ten percent failure in health care equipment. Satellites in space may need to be retrieved and fixed, missile systems could fail. Globally, the estimated cost of solving the millennium problem is $500 billion.

     Shortage of IT professionals is probably the most significant problem concerning the situation. In order to attempt eradicating this crisis, we need IT skilled people. In Europe there is a shortage of two million, and in the U.S. there is a shortage of 350 000 IT professionals. The U.K. has made a positive step forward by training people in information technology.

     Many researchers say it is too late to eradicate the crisis. We can at least minimise the brutal effects of the millennium bomb, but it is evident we must act now due to the limited amount of time and resourses.