The Y2K Problem – revisited
Posted on | October 29, 1998 | No Comments
During 1999 I was working at the WCB on their Y2K remediation efforts when a Canadian publication called “The Computer Paper” published my two part series of articles on the Y2K problem. The publication is no longer around; its assets were bought and sold many times that so I am not sure if my articles are available any more. So I have decided to put them online myself.
You can read the original article below or download a copy from my website. I originally submitted the piece as one article but due to space constraints they split it and published it over two issues. A follow-up was planned but as we all know the Year 2000 problem turned out to be far less of problem than we all expected. Which in light of the recent financial meltdown was probably a good thing.
So without further ado…
The Practical Guide to Year 2000 Readiness
By
William Jordan
By now most of you have heard something about the “Year 2000 Problem” or the “Millennium Bug”. Some of this news have been interesting, some frightening and some down right silly. The truth is the year 2000 is a fixed date in time and some of our computer related technologies will not be able to handle the date change. Some argue that your pen won’t be able to handle the date change either. The reason for both these failures is a simple one: When we write the year, either in a program or on a cheque, we use the last two digits: 98 instead of 1998. Because of our usage of this shortcut our computers may not be able to understand what century we’re in, 1900, 1800, 2000 or 3756 BCE. No doubt you have already heard what could happen if you have a mortgage, credit card, pension, loan or any date dependent bills? You run the risk of being behind in payments, not receiving your pension cheque, having your house or farm foreclosed, your credit history marred and/or declared dead. While these are legitimate possibilities I do not prescribe to worst-case scenarios. There is something we can all do to reduce the impact the new century will have on our lives and our technologies.
Most people know their computers (PC‘s, Notebooks, Mainframes etc.) may have a problem with the year 2000. Many know their computer programs may not be Year 2000 Compliant. A few know that their Cars, Coffee Makers, VCRs and Microwave Ovens may have the same problem. Fewer still know what to do about it. The question I am often asked is, “If the problem is as simple as the use of two digits to represent the year then shouldn’t the solution be as simple?” Yes and no is the simple answer but I propose the following as a method most people can use to survive the Year 2000 problem.
In your personal life:
Think of the millennium as a huge storm or earthquake. The only difference being you know when it’s coming and where it’s going to hit. How would you prepare? What would you need?
Start keeping paper records of all your bill, loan and mortgage payments. I have found the on-line banking systems offered by many Banks and Credit Unions in Canada to be invaluable for printing account statements. I personally use VanCity‘s PC Banking Service every February to print off statements for all my business and personal accounts for the previous year. According to my tax accountant these are official receipts. Since we are on the subjects of Banks. Make sure your is doing everything it can to be ready for the date change. If you aren’t happy with the answer starting shopping for a Bank or Financial Institute that will freely discuss their Y2K efforts with you. Remember it’s your money and you pay more than enough for them to hold onto to it for you. Part of being prepared is helping others realise the necessity of preparing themselves, certainly if they provide goods and services to you.
Try to bring yourself to a zero balance on all your small loans and credit cards. Reducing your debt load is smart money management and a very good way to start the new millennium.
Don’t shy away from technology. Use your debit card and occasionally your credit card wherever possible. They both offer safe and convenient ways to spend your money and they help keep accurate records of what you spend and where. Just make sure to make your credit cards payments on-time and keep the receipts.
You may have read somewhere to have cash on-hand for the first three months of the year 2000 but I don’t recommend you do. You put yourself at risk of robbery by having cash in the house. Also a run on the banks for hard currency can create the worst of all economic catastrophes. It would be better to stock up on extra batteries, matches and canned food, water and propane. In the worst of all possible scenarios we might have a situation like the ice storm of last winter. The propane would allow you to use your BBQ to cook some meals. Do not use your BBQ to heat your home! Instead invest in a wood-burning fireplace for the living room or den, if you don’t already have one. A fireplace would be great for providing heat until gas and power are restored. Bottled water is all the range now and most Canadian cities have companies who provide home and office water cooler services. You can start getting bottled water delivered to your home anytime. Sometime before the millennium you can order extra bottles, just in case.
Ask your pension company or government agency what they are doing to make sure you get a cheque in the year 2000. Most will tell you “don’t worry, we have it under control.” Or “our lawyers have told us we can’t disclose that at this time, but don’t worry.” In truth, don’t worry but be prepared. Most levels of government I have talked to, or consulted with, have contingencies in place to deal with this problem. In fact, the Saskatchewan government is considering writing payroll cheques, and even welfare cheques, by hand if Y2K remediation efforts fail. They, like most, governments are focusing on the critical areas like providing heating, power, and emergency services. As for pension and life insurance firms a recent Gartner Group survey suggested that the financial industry was the best prepared and most likely to be ready for the year 2000. Again, demand answers but prepare for a few months of lost income.
If you or your family relies on one source of income to live then make plans to be with friends or relatives during this time. They will appreciate the extra help and pooling resources in a time of crisis, even a technological one, is what this country was built on. Sharing and co-operation brings people and nations together. Remember we are all at our best when things are at there worse. Canada has endured far greater difficulties than the one presented by the Year 2000 problem. The “Millennium Bug” will seem like a cakewalk in comparison if we prepare properly for it.
In your business life:
If you run or own a small business you are most at risk to suffer Y2K related problems. Most small businesses do not have the financial resources to fix or replace their (ageing) computers and software. Also they can’t afford the high price of bringing in a consultant or programmer to fix old software. But more critical than these computer systems is the spreadsheets and databases that reside on them.
The Y2K issue is finally getting general media attention but most large companies and government agencies, both here and around the world, have been working on this problem for several years now. I think we will see some companies and some government agencies fail to fix their Y2K problems but the fall-out of these failures won’t be as bad as is being suggested. Remember it is in everyone’s best interest to fix their Y2K problems before the Dec. 31st, 1999 deadline
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