Watford Council first to act on Prime Minister's Millennium Bug warning – by using breakthrough British invention
Watford Council has become the first local authority in Britain to use a breakthrough British invention - the DELTA-T PROBE – to test embedded systems in all its properties.
Local councils have been urged to act by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Speaking at a conference on Millennium Bug Preparations to the Local Government Association on January 25th this year, he said:
"We all depend on your services –whether traffic lights and waste collection, benefits or housing. If you can't do this because of the bug, we will all be affected. And when things go wrong, people turn to their councils, particularly the vulnerable – such as the old and the disabled."
Watford Council is in the process of testing up to 130 buildings, including all lifts and heating equipment, for millennium compliance. Testing is being carried out by the council's own testing team.
Embedded systems within buildings can not easily be tested for millennium compliance, which has resulted in a problem that is running up a bill of almost £32bn for companies in the UK. The DELTA-T PROBE – manufactured by UK-based Embedded Science and managed by WSP – provides an electronic test which reduces the testing and analysis time for a single system from many weeks to less than an hour. The resulting information then forms the basis for remedial action.
The DELTA-T PROBE is the first diagnostic device anywhere in the world that is able to provide such a rapid diagnosis. It is also invaluable in verifying that millennium compliance statements issued by manufacturing system vendors are accurate.
Council leader Vince Muspratt said:
"Watford wants to be in the forefront in innovative ways to tackle problems. This testing programme is part of our comprehensive Y2K action plan. It's a cost effective way of giving assurance to our community that our services will be safe and secure as we enter the Millennium."
Patrick Bossert, Technical Director of WSP Business Technology and inventor of the Delta-T Probe, said:
"The Delta-T testing gives companies the comfort and assurance they need. Without empirical knowledge they would not know if their energies and budgets should be directed at re-buying or re-engineering their systems. To a great degree, the speed in which a company can progress to implementing any next steps outweighs the actual outcome of the testing. The fact that they know what they are facing within half an hour means they can save valuable time and money. As a result, it means they are able to focus their efforts on continuing to provide their usual services."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Key information for businesses about how to tackle the embedded systems problem is available from the Embedded Science website (www.embedded-science.com).
The DELTA-T PROBE was invented by Patrick Bossert, an embedded systems design specialist. He is Technical Director of WSP Business Technology, part of the WSP Group who are managing and promoting the device. It went into full production in early November 1998, and sales in excess of £1.2.million have already been achieved. Purchasers to date include British Aerospace, Sainsbury's, Guardian Properties and a number of major blue-chip companies throughout the world.
WSP Group is an international business providing design, consultancy and facility management services in the property and construction sector. It employs some 1500 people, and operates through a network of 50 offices in the UK and overseas. It already offers a number of services on Year 2000 issues, including programme management, auditing and testing. Clients include Commercial Union, AMP Asset Management and British Land.
PRESS ENQUIRIES
| For WSP Group |
| Josie Dobrin/Simon Maule | Luther Pendragon | 0171 353 1500 |
| Paul Scott/Patrick Bossert | WSP Business Technology | 0171 314 5000 |
| Miranda Bellord | WSP Group PR | 0171 314 5000 |
| Delta-T Probe sales |
| Website addresses: | www.embedded-science.com
www.wsp-y2k.com |
| Dedicated phone-line: | 0870 3333533 |
| For Watford Council
|
| Joy Myers | Public Relations | 01923 220 635 |
