As part of the planning for this year, the Programs Chair suggested a meeting on the Y2K problem. As bad as this may sound, I felt like maybe I didn’t know as much as I should about this pending bug. Of course I’ve heard about the problem in general. "The computers and software applications don’t know how to deal with the Year 2000 because they were programmed with just two digits for the date. At midnight on Dec. 31, 1999, the numbers "00" will pop up in these fields, and these computers will assume that it is the year 1900". But as I started researching I came upon some alarming information. Have you thought of the embedded chip problem?

IElectronic appliances (like our VCRs, fax machines, calculators, etc.) have built-in microprocessors that control the device. Approximately 25 billion of these "embedded chips" are out among us today. The "experts" estimate that roughly 10 % will not deal with the Year 2000 date correctly. The fun part is no one knows which 10% will fail. Now if we lose our "convenience machines" no big deal, but what about our industry? The embedded chips are in instrumentation and controls equipment. They are built into most of the manufacturing, processing and utility plants across the world. Scary thought isn’t it?.

You can learn more about the Year 2000 bug by visiting the ISA Orange County web site and clicking on the Y2K links. Don’t miss our informative meeting on this pending issue that will no doubt affect all of us. See you at the meeting.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any concerns or suggestions throughout the year.  I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my term, so don't be strangers.  See you at our next event!