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The Y2K ProblemPosted 2/12/1999By Terri Ruppert
This scenario may sound like the beginning of a horror movie, but it could be reality. All this chaos because of a two digit "glitch" in computer systems, commonly called the Y2K (Year 2000) bug. This error grew out of the efforts of early programmers to conserve precious computer memory. Dates could be recognized by a six digit number, mmddyy, instead of an eight digit number mmddyyyy. What these programmers didn't realize was that their code would be in use 30 years later. The inability to recognize two digits doesn't sound disastrous, until you realize the implications. Age is normally computed current year - birthday year = age (99 - 34 = 65). However, with the Y2K bug your age will now be calculated (00 - 34 = -34). To the computer, you're far too young to retire, much less collect social security. Society today has been built around computers. We have become so dependent upon computers that we no longer recognize computer controlled activities. We take for granted the everyday things that are made possible by computers. Let's take electricity for example. Whether it's hydroelectric, steam turbines, or generated by a nuclear power source, all of these methods depend upon computers to regulate their systems. Worst case scenarios will have entire cities shut down. People will lack even the most basic needs such as water (computer controlled purifying and distribution) and sewage processing (also computer controlled). Even the most basic emergency services could have a limited life span. While hospitals will be able to operate on generators for a limited time, the equipment in every department from admissions to ICU may have also succumbed to the Y2K bug. On a less critical level, common, everyday conveniences could be disabled. Without electricity, artificial lights won't light, the coffee maker won't work, the electric hot water heater won't heat and the clothes dryer won't dry. The food in the refrigerator is in danger of spoiling, but without a gas stove, you won't be able to cook it. If you attempt to leave the house, most likely you will have to disable the garage door opener and open it manually. You may also have problems obtaining gasoline because most filling stations use electricity to activate the pumps. Even getting to the service station may be a problem because without electricity, traffic lights won't be operating and traffic will rapidly become gridlocked. None of these possibilities are intended to frighten or alarm anyone. I simply wish to clarify the scope of the problem. Almost everything we use today, from ATMs to air traffic control, are dependent upon some type of computer, be it a chip that operates an automatic door at the supermarket to the supercomputer that controls our nuclear arsenal. Since so many of the things mentioned above are out of your control, what can you do to ensure a smooth transition to the new millennium? Let's start in your office. If you use a computer, you need to make sure that the computer itself is year 2000 (Y2K) compliant. When you turn on a computer, it uses a basic input-output system (BIOS) to get such information as the date and time before loading the operating system. If the BIOS is not Y2K compliant, any date that is passed to the operating system or any application program will be incorrect. Since many application programs interface seamlessly with the operating system, this problem could be difficult to detect. Fortunately, there are many free programs available from the Internet that will test your computer's BIOS and let you know whether or not it is Y2K compliant. You can also contact the computer's manufacturer to see if the BIOS is compliant. The next step is to determine if the operating system itself is Y2K compliant. You may need to upgrade to a new operating system if the one you use is not compliant, or it may become more cost effective to upgrade to a completely new computer system. You may find it necessary to upgrade to the latest version of any application software, such as Quick Books or Peachtree Accounting Software, etc., to ensure compliance. Accounting software is heavily dependent upon dates to calculate delinquency, billing cycles, etc. Failure to ensure compliance could cause major headaches down the road. In fact, it's a good idea to check to see that any computer software you are using is Y2K compliant. A new law that was recently passed, the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act, contains fuzzy legal language that many believe relieves the software manufacturer of any responsibility for damage that may be a result of their software's non-compliance. Other items and services that may fall prey to the Y2K bug are burglar and fire alarms, and credit card processing machines. Don't forget about banking services. We bank from home with online services, we use direct deposit for our payroll checks and imagine a world without the convenience of ATMs. However, these too may be vulnerable to the bug. The United States Treasury has authorized the printing of thousand dollar bills for the first time in decades in response to the public's growing concern about electronic monetary transactions and the Y2K bug. The best advice for this year is the Boy Scout motto: "Be Prepared!" _ and a sense of humor never hurts.
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Imagine standing in line at the grocery store. It's Dec. 31, 1999, at 11:59 p.m. As the dawn of a new millennium breaks, so does just about everything else. The scanner refuses to read the bar code and the register beeps continually. It doesn't really matter, however, because in a moment, the lights flicker and go out. You try to leave, but the automatic doors refuse to open. Some one thinks to call for help, but the phone lines are dead _
