Computer Crash? If computers are so smart,...
Computer Crash? If computers are so smart, why can’t they handle the year 2000? Unfortunately, many computers recognize only the last two numbers of a year, such as 97 for 1997. But officials at several prominent Valley companies say they are prepared for the four-digit changeover.
Iwerks Nonstop: Iwerks Entertainment of Burbank is one company whose youth is an advantage. “We use individual PCs, networked together, instead of the big, mainframe computer systems installed by older companies,” said Bill Battison, above, executive VP of the company that makes special- effects theaters. “Our computers can handle the change.”
Future Insurance: One of those companies using a mainframe--a centralized system dominant before the advent of PCs--is 20th Century Insurance, based in Woodland Hills. “We are taking the changeover very seriously,” said Chief Information Officer Mike Farrell. The company has been working on adapting its computers for about a year and expects to be finished by late 1998. “We’ll be ready,” Farrell said.
House of Computers: The International House of Pancakes restaurant chain, headquartered in Glendale, installed new financial software last year. But not because of the year 2000 problem. “It was just time for new software,” said Sue Garr, director of management- information systems for IHOP. “When it was in, we realized we were all set for 2000, too.”
