However, there are staggering amounts of money being spent on the problem. In a recent Merrill Lynch Forum the Y2K problem was the second most expensive disaster in history 2 . Dates are found in mainframe and personal computer programs, operating systems, and embedded in coffeemakers, medical equipment and elevators. Most systems are part of networks that provide rapid communications with other internal and external systems. Unless steps are taken to protect a Y2K compliant system, it will soon be corrupted by non-compliant systems connected to the network.
Programming is more of an art form than a science.
Finding and correcting the date fields in that much code is a very intensive and time-consuming process. The survey revealed the following disturbing information. Of the 10 firms, only two had assessed their automated systems. One firm did not even know how many lines of computer code it had, and none had any contingency plan. Telephone switch failures make it impossible to make long-distance calls or communicate with the Internet.