HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0070.001 1998-2000 i~~~~~~~
November 30, 1998
Y2K AWARENESS
Dear Hawaii County Council Chairman and Members,
Last night's 60 Minutes television show highlighted the need for awareness "O
concerning the upcoming event known as the millenium, 'Y2K', or the Year 2000_ date
change. If you haven't already done it, I suggest it is time for the Hawaii County
Council to take a look at our preparedness for the challenging event we all face, and
put Y2K awareness on the agenda of an upcoming council meeting.
For the last three months I have hosted a Y2K awareness discussion at Border's
Books in Hilo, and I would be pleased to help in any way with the discussion for the
county council as well. Our guest speakers at Border's, including Hawaii County's
data processing manager, have all expressed a real concern due to the enormity of
the problem, and the lack of resources to fix all the vulnerable systems.
Some 'embedded' computer chips are likely to fail on 01101 /00 and we are virtually
surrounded by such chips in our daily lives. They are in most alarm systems, sprinkler
systems, elevators, bankvault doors, automobiles and trucks, airplanes, etc.
Tourism is likely to be affected by next year at this time as some cautious travelers
hold-off on vacations. Our 'life-line' of imported goods (food, clothing, medicines, etc.)
comes to us from computerized warehouses loaded onto containers with computer-
controlled cranes, and pulled here with tugboats that have computer-controlled
engines and operating systems. The 911 emergengy telephone system, the banking
system, military defense systems, etc. all may, or may not, work properly as we wake-
up on Saturday morning January 1, 2000: Will our alarm clocks go off that day? Will
we be able to make a pot of coffee to ponder our new future? Let's find out now.
Sincerly,
Roger Christie
P.O. Box 752
Hilo, Hawaii 96721
961-0488
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