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Restaurants dish up solutions for year 2000 bug

The year 2000 computer dilemma affects deep fryers and other machines found in fast-food restaurants

April 9, 1998
Web posted at: 1:45 p.m. EDT (1745 GMT) From Correspondent Rick Lockridge

(CNN) -- In less than two years, all kinds of computer-driven technologies might mistake the year 2000 for the year 1900 if they aren't reprogrammed.

For the restaurant industry, the impending threat of a complete computer shutdown holds special concerns. From cash registers to deep fryers, each computer-operated piece of machinery needs to be compliant with the new millennium.

It's a problem many people don't understand, says Ed Brooks, chief information officer for AFC Enterprises, which runs national restaurant chains like Church's and Popeyes. ( 94K/7 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

CNN's Rick Lockridge reports VXtreme streaming video (2:00)

"A more flexible ... kind of computing enviroment" 689 K / 18 sec. / 160x120 QuickTime movie

The potential crisis originated when early computer programmers wrote code containing only the last two digits of the year to save data space.

To get around the missing code, AFC is taking the rather drastic measure of retiring its mainframe computer to prevent year 2000 headaches. It's an expensive choice, but a necessary one, according to Brooks. ( 247K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

The problem originated when computer programmers attempted to save space by writing code that only used the last two digits of the year

AFC is using what's called a client-server strategy, putting in place hardware and software that expresses every year as four digits.

Abbie Lundberg, editor of CIO magazine, says there's no single solution to the problem businesses have dubbed the "Y2K" dilemma.

From banks to bakeries and the federal government, businesses all over the nation face a possible disruption is the problem isn't fixed.

Savvy businesses are preparing now so that January 1, 2000, will end up being just be another day on the calendar, not a day of massive shutdown.

Check out what's coming up on next week's Tomorrow/Today

Related stories:

• U.S. government gets 'D-' for progress on 2000 bug - March 4, 1998
• FAA to speed up replacement of computers - February 3, 1998

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• The Year 2000 Information Center / Millennium Bug
• A Comprehensive Resource for Year 2000 Status - Educational Institutions
• Year 2000 Project
• Small Business Adminsistration
• Year 2000 Project- US State Government Links
• Comlinks.com with Alan Simpson: Year 2000 FAQ
• 2000 Tools - Comprehensive Cross Platform Solutions to Year 2000 Problems

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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