Y2k Computer Problem Essay, Research Paper

Computers AND THE PROBLEM 2000 IN THE BUSINESS WORLD Computers play a immense function in Government, Economy, and Financial personal businesss. Based on theinformation refering the twelvemonth 2000 computing machine clang undertaking ( y2k ) , people are realizinghow much of the economic system depends on computing machines. The age of electronics and morespecifically, computing machines, has caused a enormous displacement in the manner we do concern today. Today, many concern people wouldn t be able to work expeditiously withoutcommunications as we know it, for illustration, e-mail or fax-on-demand. We have gotten soaccustomed to the presence of computing machines and to what they provide, that many of us wear tremember what it was like earlier. This paper will try to discourse computing machines and theirimpact on how we do concern, and the jobs we will hold because of the computerproblem of 2000. In the last decennary, concerns have spent $ 1 trillion US dollars for engineering ( Marciano ) . Now they are looking at a computing machine clang in the twelvemonth 2000. The Y2K undertaking is a seriousconcern of computing machine systems to work right in the twelvemonth 2000 ( Andrews ) . One mustunderstand the computing machine systems perform logic maps based on day of the month information tounderstand this major concern. Dates in a computing machine system are stored as six-digit numeric. These six-digits consist of the last two figures of the calendar twelvemonth, a two-digitrepresentation of the month, and a two-digit representation of the twenty-four hours. The is theYYMMDD format. What is evident is that this format omits the first two figures ( 19 ) ofthe calendar twelvemonth. An illustration of the YYMMDD format for master-card or visa companies and the problemit clasp is as follows: Suppose the current day of the month is April 10, 1997 ( 970410 in YYMMDDformat ) . The expire day of the month of the recognition card is March 31, 1997 ( 970331 ) . The computerwould logically compare the current day of the month to the expire day of the month: 970410 ( current day of the month ) & # 8211 ; 970331 ( run out day of the month ) & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8211 ; + 79 The consequence of this comparing would be that the current day of the month is greater than the expiredate. This would bespeak that the recognition card is due for reclamation. Now, Lashkar-e-Taibas assume that the current day of the month is Jan. 2, 2000. In YYMMDD format, this datewould be represented as 000102. If the computing machine were to logically compare this currentdate to an expire day of the month of Dec. 30, 1999: 000102 ( current day of the month ) & # 8211 ; 991230 ( run out day of the month ) & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8211 ; -991128 Page 2. This consequence is less so. This would bespeak that the recognition card does non necessitate to be renewed for another 100 old ages. This is the concern that has been referred to as the twelvemonth 2000 issue. Sing all the

maps that are day of the month sensitive and affect bequest computing machine systems: air hose reserves, papers reclamation, scheduling

, accounting, and even stock markets. The Wall StreetJournal will begin its first round of testing soon on how the industry s order placementsystems will perform after Dec. 31, 1999(Chruch). Merrill Lynch s research analysts haveconcluded that most large corporations are reasonable confident their computer systemswill be ready for the milennium (Church). All these functions and more risk failure on Jan. 1, 2000, due to this potential problem. Computers are also a major form of communication in the business world, which the year2000 problem cannot affect. Telecommuting is the technology that made business s moreflexible. For instance, some employees connect from their computer to the office networkand perform their job function from home. More then two million corporations are nowtelecommuting full-time. If an individual s duties don t require them to be physically inthe office, this flexibility is perfect for employees to perform their job while controllingtheir own schedule. These employees can still communicate while working at homethrough e-mail and fax. The growth and innovations of the computer brought along with it many aspects of thebusiness world. The global market has created the need for fast communications over along distance. Teleconferencing and E-mail are two excellent examples of technologiesthat have met these needs and have literally transformed the way the business worldoperates. Teleconferencing, in some companies, has all but replaced physical meetings. It hasreduced travel costs and the loss of productivity as a result of the travel time required toattend the meetings. Electronic mail (E-mail) has transformed business communicationlike no other technology. In a simple inter-office communications, E-mail has helped toadvance the global market and provides immediate information transfer(Siemens). Computers are also a managers dream for analyzing a decision for a major company. Thecomputer has software that enables managers to input the major decisions facing them formaximization of profit, and wealth, and even shareholders wealth. The computer can thengenerate a decision which would be more financial for the company or the stock holder. Stock brokers also take advantage of computerized information. A stock broker may usethe computer to find out how a certain company has been operating for the past years, andhow their stocks have been doing. This can let the stock broker know is the company isstable or at high risk. Page 3. Computers are a major source of information for business, economy, and financial affairs. The y2k problem will be a down-fall for many businesses, but when the problem is fixed,computers will be back and technology will advance some more.