In a move predicted to have serious ramifications for the internet, leading maker of binary digits, Bitfabrikenworken Gesellschaft gmbh, today announced that it is filing for bankruptcy. This move is believed to be prompted by the realisation of abnormal losses resulting from unauthorised derivatives trading linked to the collapse in value of the Thai baht. Computer systems consultant Michael J Springhoff, of Anders Arthurson Consulting, believes that the move will have a major impact upon the functioning of the net. Bitworken was the world's largest supplier of bits, with some 50 to 60 percent of manufacturing share.
Bits are the binary digits, representing 'on' or 'off' on which computers and the internet run.
Data already stored on hard disk will not be affected unless it is read in from the disk and the computer then runs out of bits before it can be fully written back. If your computer loads a file and runs out of bits halfway through, then only some of your file can be written back to disk and the rest will be lost. As a result, Springhoff advises that users not use their computers until the future of bit production is clear. It would be terrible if you opened up the final version of your thesis or your company's end of year report only to have your computer run out of bits halfway through, leaving you with only the first chapter. If the bit shortage eventuates, the internet is expected to suffer massive failures as computers simply run out of bits to send.