Y2002 Computer Bug Discovered
By Ed 'Hack' Wheely and Chad
Posted on August 2, 1999 9:09 am, in News Byproducts
Washington (NBp) - The International Computer Programmers Association announced that they have discovered a previously unknown computer software bug that they have dubbed "Y2002".
"The seriousness of this situation cannot be stated," emphasized ICPA President Wally Jarmangler. "While estimates of the cost of Y2K sometimes range into the hundreds of billions, the total cost of Y2002 is inestimable."
According to the ICPA, computers will have a hard time processing dates in the year 2002. Now that nearly all programs are designed to accomodate four digit years, computers will run into a problem because 2002 is a "full-duplex trinary year". The ICPA explains that the problem stems from computers processing in binary which only contains zeroes and ones, and that the year begins and ends with a two.
"So, we either need to replace all of the computers with trinary ones, or rewrite the software into half-duplex," explained Jarmangler.
The ICPA has already certified more than 1,000 professionals as "Y2002 Experts" that are ready to help companies combat this problem. They expect the number of Y2002 Experts to increase dramatically over the next year as Y2K projects wind down.
"Almost every program will need to have changes made. And, those changes won't come cheap because of the tight timeframe." Jarmangler's firm charges $500 per hour for Y2002 repairs. "It will all be worth it in the end, however. Because the lights will stay on and the phones will keep ringing in 2002."
The ICPA has already drawn fire from another group, Y2Clean.com. Y2Clean's President, Bob Earl Fred James, had this to say on the matter: "Why do you people keep paying this extortion money to these computer guys? Live out in the forest in you'll never have to worry about Y2Krap again."
Joining Y2Clean is free, as the organization is completely paid for by the sale of Y2Clean.com stock. Y2Clean.com does not have a website. To join send a letter to:
Sick of Y2Krap c/o Y2Clean.com PO Box 2372617283289123209 Framingham, WD