ITD works to curtail effects of millennium

The millennium bug, which could have devastating effects on computer systems around the world, may wreak havoc in exactly 760 days - the moment the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 1999.

But employees of the University's Information Technology Division are working to assure the possibility of such a "cyber cataclysm" remains remote.

The millennium bug may occur when the Real Time Clock, a timing devise in the motherboard of everything from PCs and mainframes to respirators and elevators, changes its year units from 99 to 00. When systems convert from 99 to 00, instead of advancing into the year 2000, the computer may retract the date all the way back to 1900. Some experts have speculated the invalid date will lead to millions of corrupted files and faltering systems.

"The problem is at many levels," said Gloria Thiele, the ITD Year 2000 Project (Y2K) leader. Thiele said the century problem arose because data storage on widely used University programs, some of which are 40 years old, was such an expensive process.

"The data was stored on 2-unit-per-day, -month and -year basis," Thiele said. "The first two are fine, but now, as the new millennium approaches, we are faced with a serious problem with the year programs."

ITD programmers have been examining the "century problem" since early 1991. The division's Human Resource Systems Product Area has developed and is currently prototyping a "minimalist fix strategy," known as the Y2K project. ITD officials' next step is devising a strategy to implement the anecdote system across all administrative systems.

"The procedure is obviously a lengthy one," Thiele said.

Conversion processes will take place at three levels. First, the University's main data storing assets and large data bases will have to be overhauled and converted, as they are currently not "century compliant." Next, many programs that are written to calculate, rather than simply store data, have to be included in the conversion process. Finally, the University's omnipresent chips, in uncountable machines and software, will have to be replaced or adjusted.

Thiele and her colleagues have been working on an aggressive 28,000-hour plan to design a solution that would be effective across all University administrative areas. She said the team plans to have a reliable system in place by the end of this year, which will leave a year to rectify any discrepancies that might occur.

Thiele said efficient and aggressive attitudes toward solving the century debacle are necessary to correct a problem that was caused largely by a failure to think about the future.

"The century concept was a far-away one at the time," Thiele said. "People thought that this stuff (programs) were not going to last that long. Well, guess what, it has!"

Problems that may arise with the coming millennium go far beyond tiny computer chips and complicated jargon, Thiele said.

"There is very little in our lives which is not affected by this phenomena," Thiele said. "Anything and everything is affected ... The problem is as wide in scope as our dependence on information technology and chip technology is vast ... Now is only the time to check and assure if our standing is a safe one."

Thiele said even when reliable correction programs are in place, communication within the University community will be key to the project's success.

"The University and all its schools, colleges and departments need to be aware and on their toes about knowing if their programs are 2000 compliant or not," Thiele said. "Neglection could be adverse."

Jose-Maria Griffiths, ITD executive director and chief information officer for the University, said everyone on campus needs to realize the millennium problem is coming.

"The ITD has done well and we are in remarkably good shape compared to other institutions. Our early start helped us along ... What concerns us now is the issue of awareness," Griffiths said. "People need to be aware of whether their systems, old or new, are 2000 compliant."

Griffiths said horror stories of the millennium bringing with it plummeting elevators, crashing bank accounts, and failing medical equipment are greatly exaggerated.

"Come January 1, 2000, we will be in great shape," Griffiths said.

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