Over the years, the technological world has advanced rapidly, and humans havecome to rely on computers for just about every aspect of daily life fromeducation, to communication, to banking, to electricity, we depend ontechnology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our technologyis just a tangled connection of imperfect, haphazard systems we have come to letrun our lives. The year 2000 or the Y2K problem is caused by a “short cut”imbedded into many computer and microchips.
In the 1960s, to conserve what wasthen precious and expensive memory space, computer programmers shortened thefour-digit year to use a much more economical two-digit method for example, 78would mean 1978. Unfortunately, computers and microchips that still use atwo-number year will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When using datainvolving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corrupt databases withincorrect information. A statement issued by the President’s Council on theYear 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause computers to eithershut down or generate incorrect data.
In our electronic information-dependentsociety, that could be a big problem.” At the time the two-digit year wasfirst used in computer programming, no one addressed or was prepared for aproblem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today, technology wasadvancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed that the two-digityear would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This, obviously, did nothappen.
In many cases, the older applications that use the two-digit method havebeen built on, and are buried deep into systems that are the basis of largecorporations and other industries that run civilization as we know it. Computersare everywhere in government, business, utilities, and our jobs. When one systemfails, there is a cascading effect to other systems. Chairman of theSubcommittee on Government Management, Stephen Horn, stated that “Despite alingering skepticism in some realms, I assure you: The Year 2000 problem isreal; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains unstoppable.” TheY2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows exactly what will beaffected, or how much.
Bad news lurks in every corner and statistics aredepressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that Venezuela andSaudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United States) are 12to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance efforts. Beingfaced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and unfortunately, any hopeof technological stability is a serious matter that should not be tossed aroundlike it is not a big deal at all. Definitely knowledge and preparation is thekey to surviving this glitch in civilization.
I really, truly feel that it iswrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every human being is going to effect bythe Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com 112-03 9 November, 1999 ProposalArgument The Y2K Horror Over the years, the technological world has advancedrapidly, and humans have come to rely on computers for just about every aspectof daily life from education, to communication, to banking, to electricity, wedepend on technology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that ourtechnology is just a tangled connection of imperfect, haphazard systems we havecome to let run our lives. The year 2000 or the Y2K problem is caused by a“short cut” imbedded into many computer and microchips.
In the 1960s, toconserve what was then precious and expensive memory space, computer programmersshortened the four-digit year to use a much more economical two-digit method forexample, 78 would mean 1978. Unfortunately, computers and microchips that stilluse a two-number year will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. Whenusing data involving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corruptdatabases with incorrect information. A statement issued by the President’sCouncil on the Year 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could causecomputers to either shut down or generate incorrect data. In our electronicinformation-dependent society, that could be a big problem.
” At the time thetwo-digit year was first used in computer programming, no one addressed or wasprepared for a problem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today,technology was advancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed thatthe two-digit year would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This,obviously, did not happen. In many cases, the older applications that use thetwo-digit method have been built on, and are buried deep into systems that arethe basis of large corporations and other industries that run civilization as weknow it. Computers are everywhere in government, business, utilities, and ourjobs. When one system fails, there is a cascading effect to other systems.
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Stephen Horn, stated that“Despite a lingering skepticism in some realms, I assure you: The Year 2000problem is real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remainsunstoppable.” The Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knowsexactly what will be affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner andstatistics are depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated thatVenezuela and Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the UnitedStates) are 12 to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K complianceefforts. Being faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, andunfortunately, any hope of technological stability is a serious matter thatshould not be tossed around like it is not a big deal at all. Definitelyknowledge and preparation is the key to surviving this glitch in civilization.
Ireally, truly feel that it is wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, everyhuman being is going to effect by the Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com112-03 9 November, 1999 Proposal Argument The Y2K Horror Over the years, thetechnological world has advanced rapidly, and humans have come to rely oncomputers for just about every aspect of daily life from education, tocommunication, to banking, to electricity, we depend on technology. The Y2K“bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our technology is just a tangledconnection of imperfect, haphazard systems we have come to let run our lives.The year 2000 or the Y2K problem is caused by a “short cut” imbedded intomany computer and microchips. In the 1960s, to conserve what was then preciousand expensive memory space, computer programmers shortened the four-digit yearto use a much more economical two-digit method for example, 78 would mean 1978.
Unfortunately, computers and microchips that still use a two-number year willrecognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When using data involving dates, theproblem will cause failures, and can corrupt databases with incorrectinformation. A statement issued by the President’s Council on the Year 2000Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause computers to either shut down orgenerate incorrect data. In our electronic information-dependent society, thatcould be a big problem.” At the time the two-digit year was first used incomputer programming, no one addressed or was prepared for a problem when theyear 2000 rolled around, because, like today, technology was advancing andchanging quickly.
Computer programmers assumed that the two-digit year wouldeventually be changed and become obsolete. This, obviously, did not happen. Inmany cases, the older applications that use the two-digit method have been builton, and are buried deep into systems that are the basis of large corporationsand other industries that run civilization as we know it. Computers areeverywhere in government, business, utilities, and our jobs. When one systemfails, there is a cascading effect to other systems.
Chairman of theSubcommittee on Government Management, Stephen Horn, stated that “Despite alingering skepticism in some realms, I assure you: The Year 2000 problem isreal; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains unstoppable.” TheY2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows exactly what will beaffected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner and statistics aredepressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that Venezuela andSaudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United States) are 12to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance efforts. Beingfaced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and unfortunately, any hopeof technological stability is a serious matter that should not be tossed aroundlike it is not a big deal at all. Definitely knowledge and preparation is thekey to surviving this glitch in civilization.
I really, truly feel that it iswrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every human being is going to effect bythe Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com 112-03 9 November, 1999 ProposalArgument The Y2K Horror Over the years, the technological world has advancedrapidly, and humans have come to rely on computers for just about every aspectof daily life from education, to communication, to banking, to electricity, wedepend on technology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that ourtechnology is just a tangled connection of imperfect, haphazard systems we havecome to let run our lives. The year 2000 or the Y2K problem is caused by a“short cut” imbedded into many computer and microchips.
In the 1960s, toconserve what was then precious and expensive memory space, computer programmersshortened the four-digit year to use a much more economical two-digit method forexample, 78 would mean 1978. Unfortunately, computers and microchips that stilluse a two-number year will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. Whenusing data involving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corruptdatabases with incorrect information. A statement issued by the President’sCouncil on the Year 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could causecomputers to either shut down or generate incorrect data. In our electronicinformation-dependent society, that could be a big problem.
” At the time thetwo-digit year was first used in computer programming, no one addressed or wasprepared for a problem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today,technology was advancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed thatthe two-digit year would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This,obviously, did not happen. In many cases, the older applications that use thetwo-digit method have been built on, and are buried deep into systems that arethe basis of large corporations and other industries that run civilization as weknow it. Computers are everywhere in government, business, utilities, and ourjobs. When one system fails, there is a cascading effect to other systems.
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Stephen Horn, stated that“Despite a lingering skepticism in some realms, I assure you: The Year 2000problem is real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remainsunstoppable.” The Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knowsexactly what will be affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner andstatistics are depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated thatVenezuela and Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the UnitedStates) are 12 to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K complianceefforts.
Being faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, andunfortunately, any hope of technological stability is a serious matter thatshould not be tossed around like it is not a big deal at all. Definitelyknowledge and preparation is the key to surviving this glitch in civilization. Ireally, truly feel that it is wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, everyhuman being is going to effect by the Y2K horror.
