It is not our intention to duplicate these web sites, but rather to provide access to information and tools which will help users in developing countries to identify potential problem areas and to find other organizations which have dealt with these problems. The site also provides links to tools and information to help micro-computer users to ensure that their hardware and software are Year 2000 compliant. This site will be available in seven languages, and particular attention has been given to finding free or inexpensive material as well as sites available in languages other than English. The Y2K bug can cause individual computers to fail completely or to provide inaccurate results. The page includes UN and World Bank sites as well as developing country national Y2K sites.
Most sites are from industrialized countries.
Many provide downloadable questionnaires and other tools for assessing the potential impact of Y2K in that sector and developing Y2K strategies. Some include information on Y2K compliance for specific types of equipment. Most of the sites relating to specific embedded chip problems are available on the different sector pages. In many cases the problem has been caused by programmers having used two-digit fields for the year in dates. The estimated impact of this bug ranges from predictions of complete economic collapse in computer dependent economies to predictions that the problem is well in hand and that no real problems will emerge.