(Japanese Site)
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| JEIDA Says 35 Pct of Japanese Users Ready for Y2K Problem
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June 12, 1998 (TOKYO) -- A Japan Electronic Industry Development
Association (JEIDA) survey showed that as of the end of March 1998,
35 percent of Japanese computer users who need to cope with the
Year 2000 date-change problem have completed countermeasures.
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In this survey, JEIDA sent a questionnaire to 445 dealers
responsible for sales and maintenance of mid-ranged computers to
get answers about their measures against that problem and progress
in the preparation of their customers.
The survey was conducted from April 1-24 in 1998, collecting 110
answers from 24.7 percent of all answerers. This is the second such
survey conducted, following one held in October 1997.
The first survey showed 20 percent of the users were ready for the
Year 2000 problem.
Despite the gravity of the problem, the number of ready users showed
a small increase. However, 55 percent of the yet-to-be-ready users
expect to complete their preparations by the end of December 1998.
As the result, the number of users who will complete their
countermeasures by the end of this December is expected to grow to
70.5 percent of all answerers.
Regarding the countermeasures taken by the prepared users, 58
percent of such users have switched to new software and the other 4
2 percent have made alterations to their software.
Furthermore, the computer dealers who anticipate a shortage of
experts including system engineers to deal with the Year 2000
problem made up 70 percent of all answerers, estimating personnel
equivalent to 13 percent of system engineers currently working at
these dealers will be needed.
JEIDA is aggressively carrying on an enlightenment campaign on the
Year 2000 problem through activities such as conducting and
reporting these surveys and preparing and distributing posters.
In the present situation, however, many computer users still seem
aware of the problem but have yet to determine what kind of
measures they should take, according to Hitoshi Nomura, the chair
of JEIDA's regulatory committee, pointing out the slow reaction of
the majority of users.
JEIDA forecasts most corporate users would start serious
preparations no sooner than the autumn of 1998.
(BizTech Editorial Dept.)
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