It is just a little over 25 years ago when the world anxiously waited in fear of the Y2K date problem. The majority of experts were saying the world would have major problems. These "experts" were wrong.
I had to give a couple of lectures to some local groups about Y2K. Many of the attendees were in fear. I tried to calm them down. In their minds every thing with a computer was going to crash.
One person questioned what would happen with their car because it had a computer. Would it cease to work on 1/1/2000? I asked the person when was the last time they entered the date into their car. Stunned silence. Car computers are process control computers and in the context of a car, had no concern about the date.
Others were in fear traffic lights would not work because the lights would think a work day was a weekend and change their timing. I countered with "so what". The lights will work and there will not be major accidents.
Others were concerned about fuel pumps not working. I said the pumps will work, your credit may be the only issue. Others were concerned about ATMs not working. But vendors have had dozens of months to prepare. The likelihood of the cards not working was slim to none.
Others were concerned about their mortgages now showing 100 years past due. I countered with that in the extremely rare case that happens the lending institution would know there was a problem.
The only problem that anyone would have is the date in their old computer being incorrect. That is not going to affect their lives.
While in the USAF my group solved the Y2K problem in 1974, long before the rest of the world was concerned. I knew from experience that Y2K for the most part was going to be a non-event. I was heavily criticized for that stand. Turns out I was correct.
Y2K was little more than a scam for thousands of consultants to rip off clients by spreading fear from lack of knowledge. A lot of money was made from Y2K fear. I even made a few hundred dollars.
I had to give a couple of lectures to some local groups about Y2K. Many of the attendees were in fear. I tried to calm them down. In their minds every thing with a computer was going to crash.
One person questioned what would happen with their car because it had a computer. Would it cease to work on 1/1/2000? I asked the person when was the last time they entered the date into their car. Stunned silence. Car computers are process control computers and in the context of a car, had no concern about the date.
Others were in fear traffic lights would not work because the lights would think a work day was a weekend and change their timing. I countered with "so what". The lights will work and there will not be major accidents.
Others were concerned about fuel pumps not working. I said the pumps will work, your credit may be the only issue. Others were concerned about ATMs not working. But vendors have had dozens of months to prepare. The likelihood of the cards not working was slim to none.
Others were concerned about their mortgages now showing 100 years past due. I countered with that in the extremely rare case that happens the lending institution would know there was a problem.
The only problem that anyone would have is the date in their old computer being incorrect. That is not going to affect their lives.
While in the USAF my group solved the Y2K problem in 1974, long before the rest of the world was concerned. I knew from experience that Y2K for the most part was going to be a non-event. I was heavily criticized for that stand. Turns out I was correct.
Y2K was little more than a scam for thousands of consultants to rip off clients by spreading fear from lack of knowledge. A lot of money was made from Y2K fear. I even made a few hundred dollars.
