Holy Redeemer's Y2K Project

Welcome to Holy Redeemer's Y2K project. This year as part of our Grade 8 technology program we are working on a project with a grade eight class from Bishop O'Neill . We here at Holy Redeemer as well as students at Bishop O'Neill carried out research over the internet, communicated through email, and developed the most common concerns with Y2K. From all of our research , much discussion & debate we compiled the following list with our own predictions.

What is the Y2K bug?

Y2K stands for (acronym) Year 2000. Many computer systems and embedded systems were written to store dates with only a 2-number year. At that time computer memory was very expensive and money was saved by having a two number year. The same is done when you abbreviate a date like Nov.11, 1998 by writing it as, 11/11/98. The last number [98'] is an abbreviation for 1998. The problem with this convention is what to do after 12/31/99 [Dec.31 99']. How do you write Jan.1 2000? Is it 1/1/00? Or is it 1/1/2000? Computers that store dates as 1/1/00 are considered to have the Y2K bug. Some software may not work at all since it will think the year is 1900.

What is Being done to prevent Y2K?

Computer engineers and programmers are in the process of testing hardware(embedded systems) and software for Y2K compliance and are fixing the problem.

Will all the computer software in the world be fixed in time? No,not all.

What will be the effects? Well, its the kind of thing that we will not know until after it happens.

If you have a computer you can consult with your parents and friends and try to fix the date on your computer so when the year 2000 comes your computer will know its 2000 not 1900.

At school you can consult with your technology computer teacher and try to help him or her with the Y2K problem.

What people can do to make sure Y2K don't effect them!!!!

If you are expecting Y2K disruptions you should start making percautions to do so during September to December 1999.
You should have a certain amount of money for the next two days just in case the ATM machines go down.
You should get lots of candles, flashlights and batteries as a precaution in case the electric power goes down.
People should not panic. They should be asking questions about the Y2K to prepare themselves for the event.

You should also stock up on gas and food for at least a little while.
Prepare your computers for the Y2K.
Make an emergency kit that includes fresh water, flashlights with extra batteries and some extra food. You should also have a first aid kit.
People should also have a several days worth days of cash.
They should have a alternate heat source. Such as fire wood.
Can foods and an non-electric can opener.

Y2k Predictions

Many people thinks that power systems will fail.
Some types of cars will not work.
Microwave ovens will not fail.
Elevators will work.
Many people will get sued. For many reasons. Some will be sued because they knew about y2k problem and didn't fix it.
Just after Y2K, ATMs will run out of cash as people panic at the last minute and try to empty their accounts.
There is most likely to be a crime spree on Jan 1^st, as people expect computerized alarm systems to fail.
Watchs will not fail.
We don't think the electric power systems will fail.
There will be many computer programming jobs opening up just before the Y2K.
Gas pipelines will shut down.

Y2K Summary

Many people believe that on New Years Eve the world will go through a major disruption of services, but there are many other predictions. Some say computers will shut down, stock market will crash and we may lose power. The Y2K problem is that when the year 2000 comes the computer will not recognize the number 2 as a first number and they may go back to the year 1900. If you have a computer consult with your parents or teacher to fix the date and the computer.

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