As a project planner nothing bothers me more than the lack of credible infomation regarding embedded chips or systems. If type testing doesn't work then embedded systems could really be a nightmare come Y2K as the only option left would be a "fix-on-failure" mode of operations.

Therefore, I would like to put forth the following proposal for consideration of members of this forum. There is still 10 months of time left before Y2K. I think if the Government were to select a electric utility and fund a pilot project to individually test all embedded systems then we could finally lay to rest the "embedded systems" problem debate.

If after individual testing of all embedded systems no problems were found we could all breath a sigh of relief. However, on the other hand, if defective chip systems were found, then we would have a tremendous amount of data before-hand.

Please let me know what your thoughts are.

PS This idea is most definitely in the embroynic stage and any help would be most appreciated.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 1999

Answers

1. "If after individual testing of all embedded systems no problems... "
   
   According to the NRC documents, problems have been found (GPS for instance).
   
2. "...Government were to select a electric utility and fund a pilot project..."
   
   I would agree with having a pilot project... it makes sense from a statistics collection standpoint. It would be nice to know how big the problems are.
   
   -- Anonymous, March 09, 1999

Bill, I personally think it's a great idea and would be incredibly helpful. However, I also have to say that I honestly think it's too late for anything like that to happen. The pace at which the Federal government moves is slower than a snail, especially when it comes to passing funding for anything. Assuming such a project could get to a congressional planning committee, by the time it got out of committee with any recommendations for action it would already be 2000.

State governments don't move much faster, and if the money for a project isn't already in this year's budget there's next to no chance of getting the money for something else. You've probably already seen some of the news articles about state and local governments which either don't have the money or are refusing to come up with the funds needed even for remediation.

The most pitiful aspect of the entire Year 2000 problem is that there weren't leaders in a position of power who were forward-looking enough to begin such test projects and press for overall remediation years ago. The normal government and business propensity to wait until a problem has reached critical proportions before paying any serious attention to it has once again gotten the world in serious trouble. I only hope the price of this ignorance and complacency will not be so steep it will haunt us for years to come.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 1999