For example, when just one satellite malfunctioned in May, millions of pagers and automated teller machines went out for two days. An ice storm in eastern Canada knocked out part of the country's power grid and shut off power to millions of people for more than a week. American businesses rely on computers to do almost everything. They run huge manufacturing machines, answer telephones, pay employees and control alarm systems. Federal government computers track airliners, generate Social Security checks and control satellites in space and missiles on the ground.
Cities use computers to run traffic lights and dispatch police officers.
Utilities use them to operate water and sewage systems. Grocery stores use them to keep track of stock and place orders. Even more important than the software that runs those computers are the tiny, embedded computer chips buried in the guts of technological gadgets, heavy machinery, airliners and even pacemakers. Ill. Estimates vary on how many of those chips will fail. Hall says 1 percent.