Early programmers looking to save computational power used shortened versions of year dates, such as “89” instead of “1989.” It was a classic case of short-term thinking. At the time it made economic sense, but what was going to happen when the year 2000 arrived? This chronological account composed entirely of American archive material shows how the millennium bug (or Y2K) turned from a programming error to a potential cataclysm.
Tensions keep on rising as the turn of the millennium approaches. Warnings are issued about computer systems going haywire and all the possible consequences, like power cuts or non-functioning ATMs. And would airplanes be dropping out of the sky?
While some people are working tirelessly to get a grip on the problems, others prepare for the end of days. Businesses and conservative media outlets jump on the bandwagon, and conspiracy theories start circulating. Time Bomb Y2K captures the moment when it became clear to all that the digital revolution offers countless benefits, but it also makes our society vulnerable.
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