Could someone explain Y2K?

Answer 1

The Year 2000 problem (also known as the Y2K problem, the millennium bug, and the Y2K Bug) was the result of a practice in early computer program design that caused some date-related processing to operate incorrectly for dates and times on and after January 1, 2000. It engendered widespread concern that critical industries (such as electricity or financial) and government functions would cease operating at exactly midnight, January 1, 2000, and on other critical dates which were billed as "event horizons". This fear was fueled by the attendant press coverage and other media speculation, as well as corporate and government reports. Companies and organizations world-wide checked and upgraded their computer systems. The preparation for Y2K thus had a significant effect on the computer industry. No significant computer failures occurred when the clocks rolled over into 2000. Debate continues on whether the absence of computer failures was the result of the preparation undertaken or whether the significance of the problem had been overstated.

Answer 2

Y2K was a problem that had been identified a decade earlier.

Computer programmers had used only three digits for any date in a program to save 'code lines'. Each code was small because the computer chips of the day were not that powerful. The largest computer in the world in 1944 was aboard the Battleship Missouri and measured 8 x 10 x25 feet. The calculator you now use in math class has twice the computing power of the computer on board the Lunar Lander in 1969.

The problem was, so much 'code' was out there that when that code hit '2000' as a year it would not act properly. by the time 2000 A.D. came long the codes had been re-written or the computers themselves were updated so much that nothing really happened.

The fact is thought that multiple patches had to be released for software just in case. Imagine the billing department with out-dated code generating 100 years of bills because the computer THOUGHT a century had passed since you last paid your electric bill.

Answer 3

Before 2000, computer memory and storage were relatively expensive. Programs were written and calculations made on the assumption that "19" preceds the date i.e if 60, it means 1960. As the problem could be very pervasive e.g. meters, airplanes etc people were not quite sure what the potential impact would be come the year 2000. Y2K is the shortform for the Year 2000. Some of the leading firms created a lot of scare and money from the problem. Those who were in the "know' realised the problems was hyped. The year came and passed without much of a fuss. Those who made some money out of this phenomenon in one way or another is "retiring" nicely - thank you very much!

Answer 4

It is an acronym for Year 2000, the K stands for kilo (1000). It was a big scare back in 1999 because a lot of early computer programs were written with the year just being expressed as the last two digits (i.e. 1975 was 75). This would be a problem as when it became 2000 those programs would see the year as 00. So it was felt that any information would think it hadn't happened yet so people were afraid that their bank computers would say they have no balance in their accounts because the computer would think the money hadn't been deposited yet. Fortunately, there was no mass problems as most programmers were able to fix any outdated programs to using a 4 digit number for the year.

Answer 5

the y2k scare- computers only used two digits to track most dates 1978 was just 78, lots of billing and payment software was setup with just 78. also other computers like all of them on subs and nuclear missiles all had this. so when it rolls over to 00 not 2000. no one was sure what would happen. maybe the computers would all turn off or launch the nukes, or at least cause problems for social security payments and all sorts of electronic money transfers. So it was basically just the problem of only having two slots in the year place.

Answer 6

Y2K means Year 2000. It is stated as Y2K because Y stands for year and 2K means 2000. So it is Year 2000.

Answer 7

The Y2K phenomenom. Everyone thought that computers would go crazy and all the data in them (credit card numbers, debts, payments) would be erased and all the missiles in the world would launch. Nothing eneded up happening.

Answer 8

in 2000 a bunch of people thought the world would end because it was the year 2000, the rest is just paranoia on the part of the y2k believers

Answer 9

Y for year. 2K for 2000. It was supposed to be dramatic because of suspicion that massive computer malfunctions would occur because most systems only used the last two Numbers for dates, such as 1998 would be 98. It did cause a bit of a panic,

Answer 10

Y means year. The "K" in 2K means kilo. So, 2K (or 2 kilo) is equivalent to 2000. Hence Y2K means the year 2000. Simple !!!