The Y2K problem began back in the 70's when the computer programmers didn't have space to put in a four digit date. Instead, they set the date as two digits, thinking the machines they were programming wouldn't be used in thirty years. They were right, but no one updated it. Everyone was under the impression that the next generation of programmers would come in and change the date!

In this regard, Y2K can be compared to a school project, where some students prepare early and get it out of the way, and others wait until the last minute. I asked Mr. Koskinen what he thought about teenagers' reaction to the problem: did they seem to regard the issue seriously? A survey they sponsored showed that young people pay less attention to the Y2K problem than other issues. For the most part, he reasoned, the younger generations are less frightened by technology and can handle it better. Younger people grew up with computers and they know how to fix problems when they occur within the system. People forty years of age or older, he told me, tend to be the strangers to technology and view it as potentially dangerous.

Referring to the subject of stockpiling food, water and money, Mr. Koskinen advised, Everyone has to make their own judgement about what they think is important in terms of preparation and what's going to make them comfortable. Our advice has been that we don't think that there's any indication that there's going to be significant problems in this country. While news reports have highlighted many people packing their basements full of supplies in preparation for the worst, Mr. Koskinen's advice was simply to plan as if we knew we were going to have a long weekend winter storm or a small hurricane. Power companies, grocery stores and pharmacies should have a 90 day supply of natural gas, oil, food and drugs in the event that the supply chain fails. However, people with personal situations, such as those families that have infants, or residences that house elderly people should be advised that they may have to prepare slightly differently than others.

With regard to many less resourceful countries, Mr. Koskinen told me funds have been donated to the World Bank to help bring them up to technological speed. The United States, for example, has contributed $12 million and England has raised $17 million. We gave them the tools, but we
can't fix the whole world's systems, Mr. Koskinen said,

Mr. Koskinen assured us that for the new millennium, he will be monitoring the nation from The Information Coordination Center. From there he will be tracking the country and the world, making sure everything is going well. Thousands of people will also be working in hospitals, power and gas companies, etc., making sure everything is going to be fine. As a final demonstration of confidence in the readiness for Y2K, Mr. Koskinen plans to celebrate New Years Eve aboard the New York/Washington shuttle with his wife.

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