Over the years, the technological world has advanced rapidly, and humans have
come to rely on computers for just about every aspect of daily life from
education, to communication, to banking, to electricity, we depend on
technology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our technology
is just a tangled connection 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 into many computer and microchips. In the 1960s, to conserve what was
then precious and expensive memory space, computer programmers shortened the
four-digit year to 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 will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When using data
involving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corrupt databases with
incorrect information. A statement issued by the President’s Council on the
Year 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause computers to either
shut down or generate incorrect data. In our electronic information-dependent
society, that could be a big problem.” At the time the two-digit year was
first used in computer programming, no one addressed or was prepared for a
problem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today, technology was
advancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed that the two-digit
year would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This, obviously, did not
happen. In many cases, the older applications that use the two-digit method have
been built on, and are buried deep into systems that are the basis of large
corporations and other industries that run civilization as we know it. Computers
are everywhere in government, business, utilities, and our jobs. 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 2000 problem is
real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains unstoppable.” The
Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows exactly what will be
affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner and statistics are
depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that Venezuela and
Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United States) are 12
to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance efforts. Being
faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and unfortunately, any hope
of technological stability is a serious matter that should not be tossed around
like it is not a big deal at all. Definitely knowledge and preparation is the
key to surviving this glitch in civilization. I really, truly feel that it is
wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every human being is going to effect by
the Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com 112-03 9 November, 1999 Proposal
Argument The Y2K Horror Over the years, the technological world has advanced
rapidly, and humans have come to rely on computers for just about every aspect
of daily life from education, to communication, to banking, to electricity, we
depend on technology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our
technology is just a tangled connection 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 into many computer and microchips. In the 1960s, to
conserve what was then precious and expensive memory space, computer programmers
shortened the four-digit year to 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 will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When
using data involving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corrupt
databases with incorrect information. A statement issued by the President’s
Council on the Year 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause
computers to either shut down or generate incorrect data. In our electronic
information-dependent society, that could be a big problem.” At the time the
two-digit year was first used in computer programming, no one addressed or was
prepared for a problem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today,
technology was advancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed that
the two-digit year would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This,
obviously, did not happen. In many cases, the older applications that use the
two-digit method have been built on, and are buried deep into systems that are
the basis of large corporations and other industries that run civilization as we
know it. Computers are everywhere in government, business, utilities, and our
jobs. 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 2000
problem is real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains
unstoppable.” The Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows
exactly what will be affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner and
statistics are depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United
States) are 12 to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance
efforts. Being faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and
unfortunately, any hope of technological stability is a serious matter that
should not be tossed around like it is not a big deal at all. Definitely
knowledge and preparation is the key to surviving this glitch in civilization. I
really, truly feel that it is wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every
human being is going to effect by the Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com
112-03 9 November, 1999 Proposal Argument The Y2K Horror Over the years, the
technological world has advanced rapidly, and humans have come to rely on
computers for just about every aspect of daily life from education, to
communication, to banking, to electricity, we depend on technology. The Y2K
“bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our technology is just a tangled
connection 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 into
many computer and microchips. In the 1960s, to conserve what was then precious
and expensive memory space, computer programmers shortened the four-digit year
to 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 will
recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When using data involving dates, the
problem will cause failures, and can corrupt databases with incorrect
information. A statement issued by the President’s Council on the Year 2000
Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause computers to either shut down or
generate incorrect data. In our electronic information-dependent society, that
could be a big problem.” At the time the two-digit year was first used in
computer programming, no one addressed or was prepared for a problem when the
year 2000 rolled around, because, like today, technology was advancing and
changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed that the two-digit year would
eventually be changed and become obsolete. This, obviously, did not happen. In
many cases, the older applications that use the two-digit method have been built
on, and are buried deep into systems that are the basis of large corporations
and other industries that run civilization as we know it. Computers are
everywhere in government, business, utilities, and our jobs. 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 2000 problem is
real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains unstoppable.” The
Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows exactly what will be
affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner and statistics are
depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that Venezuela and
Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United States) are 12
to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance efforts. Being
faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and unfortunately, any hope
of technological stability is a serious matter that should not be tossed around
like it is not a big deal at all. Definitely knowledge and preparation is the
key to surviving this glitch in civilization. I really, truly feel that it is
wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every human being is going to effect by
the Y2K horror. Dave Fleming Michael Pratt Com 112-03 9 November, 1999 Proposal
Argument The Y2K Horror Over the years, the technological world has advanced
rapidly, and humans have come to rely on computers for just about every aspect
of daily life from education, to communication, to banking, to electricity, we
depend on technology. The Y2K “bug” seems to be a vicious reminder that our
technology is just a tangled connection 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 into many computer and microchips. In the 1960s, to
conserve what was then precious and expensive memory space, computer programmers
shortened the four-digit year to 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 will recognize 00 as the year 1900, not as 2000. When
using data involving dates, the problem will cause failures, and can corrupt
databases with incorrect information. A statement issued by the President’s
Council on the Year 2000 Conversion states: “This Y2K bug could cause
computers to either shut down or generate incorrect data. In our electronic
information-dependent society, that could be a big problem.” At the time the
two-digit year was first used in computer programming, no one addressed or was
prepared for a problem when the year 2000 rolled around, because, like today,
technology was advancing and changing quickly. Computer programmers assumed that
the two-digit year would eventually be changed and become obsolete. This,
obviously, did not happen. In many cases, the older applications that use the
two-digit method have been built on, and are buried deep into systems that are
the basis of large corporations and other industries that run civilization as we
know it. Computers are everywhere in government, business, utilities, and our
jobs. 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 2000
problem is real; its consequences are serious; and the deadline remains
unstoppable.” The Y2K problem can not be accurately figured, and no one knows
exactly what will be affected, or how much. Bad news lurks in every corner and
statistics are depressing. The consulting firm GatnerGroup has estimated that
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia (two of the largest exporters of oil to the United
States) are 12 to 18 months behind the United States in their Y2K compliance
efforts. Being faced with the threats of loss of electricity, oil, and
unfortunately, any hope of technological stability is a serious matter that
should not be tossed around like it is not a big deal at all. Definitely
knowledge and preparation is the key to surviving this glitch in civilization. I
really, truly feel that it is wrong to write Y2K off as a media-hype, every
human being is going to effect by the Y2K horror.