Y2K2

As the new millenium approaches the biggest fear everyone has is over the Y2K bug. Y2K stands for y=year 2K=two thousand. The fear is that on Dec. 31, 1999 at twelve o’ clock all computers around the world will go crazy. Every mechanical device that is computer controlled could go on the ‘fritz’. Social Security checks could be cancelled along with car payments, mortgages could read 100 years. Telephone conversations could be calculated mistakenly to have lasted for a 100 years.

What is causing this big computer scare? The big problem is when computers were first designed the makers only put a two-digit dating system instead of four. This is because the programmers did not have the money for a four-digit system. The two-digit system only reads the last two numbers in the year. For example 1999 reads 99. The four digits would interpret this as 1999. When the New Year approaches the computers will read 1900 instead of 2000. “This is not computer industry hype, this problem affects everyone and it could have some dire consequences if it’s ignored”(B. Hall Sun Sentinel pg.1).

If this ‘bug’ is not corrected it could ruin the whole computer industry. The bug could effect everything from bank accounts to retirement

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It will take a lot of time to find every computer that is equipped with the two-digit time system.

People knew this problem existed but were too lazy to fix it (Sun Sentinel pg. )

The things that should not be done are not to underestimate the size of the problem. So companies are buying software off the shelves to make up for this. Sure this is a problem but is it really over hyped? If you take care of it early enough you have nothing to worry about they feel. Some people are not even aware of the problem. Another problem that they face is that fixing this can cause another problem now because there are 2,400 different programming languages have been added since the 1950’s. They don’t believe in all this Y2K hype. Although our own computers will be effected certain software such as Window’s 95, and Window’s NT can deal with it. Remember to take an account of all the things you may have that is computer operated.

Just how aware of this are the people.

Approximate Word count = 1149
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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