Y2k Hysteria
Borderland Sciences
Research Foundation
The Borderlands Y2k Challenge
01-14-1999
Y2k is rapidly approaching and still there are a few questions as to what the outcome will really be. It is important that everyone IS prepared for anything that could happen – power outages, food shortages, bank runs, etc. Being prepared for ANY disaster that may strike is just a good idea these days.
This doesn't mean that we are altering our viewpoint on Y2k – we're just stating that it is a good idea to be prepared. Gloom and doom are at the forefront of most Y2k discussions, and yet we still believe much of it to be a part of that "industry of hysteria".
One example of our commitment to our position is that we are NOT going to pull ANY money out of our bank account. Several things could happen economically speaking, and if we are wrong, we might not be here after 01-01-2000. But, we don't want to add to the hysteria by becoming a part of the "bank run" scenario. We're not saying others should follow our lead, just that this is what we are going to do.
Now, the "Y2k Challenge". There have been numerous reports and stories about how this or that system "locked up" or failed to work when the 01-01-2000 date was entered. Stories of everything from VCRs to new automobiles to entire manufacturing plants ceasing to function because of a Y2k related bug in their hardcoded embedded systems abound with no substantiation for the claims whatsoever. Most of the worries about embedded systems center on the power industry and whether they will be able to operate after 01-01-2000.
So, when I was a guest on the Art Bell show on 01-06-1999, I stated that I would be welcome to ANY offering of a specific example of embedded system failure. What I mean by this is that I want to see an example of a device COMPLETELY malfunctioning because it is date sensitive – in other words – the device must CEASE TO FUNCTION period, and we at BSRF must be able to verify it for ourselves.
No one has been able to specifically demonstrate this yet (please don't just cite stories you have heard). The way to present this to us is to give us the type of device, namebrand, and serial number (if possible). We will then check it out for ourselves (again, we must be able to do this physically). If it CEASES TO FUNCTION because of the embedded system not being able to properly interpret the date, we will then state publically that we were WRONG about our previous conclusions concerning Y2k. We will publicise this information as far and wide as is possible.
It is our contention that no one will be able to produce such a device failure. If no failures occur within consumer based electronic devices, how can we assume that there will be any failures in any other embedded system? We will keep everyone updated on this website of the results of this investigation. Time is short.
Michael
Theroux
Borderland Sciences
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