Is there such a thing as the Y2K7 Bug? Are all of our electronic devices going to hiccup to a halt because of the change in the start date for Daylight Savings Time? i actually hadn’t given this much thought until we discussed it in a staff meeting this morning. Here is an email note we sent out to our employees today about this issue:
“The IT Division is currently working on updating our systems to prepare for the new Daylight Saving Time Dates. This year Daylight Saving Time will begin 3 weeks earlier and end one week later than normal. This change is causing problems with the way computers handle times during those additional weeks. If you currently look at your appointment schedule in your Outlook Calendar you may notice that the times are shifted during these weeks (March 11 – April 1) (Oct 28 – Nov 4). The IT Division is currently patching Servers and Workstations to solve this problem. However, we do need your help.
-Please do not shut your PCs down at night when you leave. Please RESTART instead, this leaves the computer running and allows us to complete the updates on your PC.
-Please manually adjust your appointments during these weeks, and also verify you appointments. If you will be scheduling meetings with others during these times it would be a good idea to include the times in the subject of the messages rather that simply relying on the times that are included with the message. If you need help adjusting you calendar items please contact IT.
We will keep you informed of our progress on this issue and let you know what to expect and what else you may need to do to ensure a smooth DST Change.”
That’s what we’re telling City employees. I think we can handle it. Below is more information about the DST change from CNN.
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Keeping in sync with Daylight Savings Time
This year we’re springing forward three weeks early. Gerri Willis takes a look at how to prepare for the time change.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — We’re springing forward three weeks early this year and that could cause some computer and gadget headaches. We’ll give you the preparation tools you need to navigate through this year’s time change.
The warnings surrounding this year’s Daylight Savings Time change is reminiscent of the warnings about the Y2K bug. But just like in 2000, the hype about the time change is mostly just that.
The earlier daylight savings time, which was implemented by Congress as a way to conserve energy, will throw a few computers and smart gadgets for a loop because they’re automatically programmed to change the time on the old date on April 1st.
As a result, the worst that can happen is that you’re an hour late to a meeting or someone calls you at the wrong time. But computer programmers and IT departments have known about the DST change for at least a year, says Lance Ulanoff of PC Magazine.
Almost any computer or operating system that was programmed before 2005 won’t be ready to handle the change. That means most calendar software like Outlook 2003 and computer systems like Windows XP and Apple’s OS X, will need to have the new time programmed in.
The clocks on your microwave, digital camera, camcorder and a personal digital assistant or PDA may also need fixing.
Expect the controllers that automatically lock and unlock doors or set alarm systems to be off-kilter. And don’t forget about adjusting your programmable thermostats and coffeemakers.
If you don’t have Microsoft Vista and you have an older computer that doesn’t have an automatic update feature, expect to do some work. Microsoft and Apple have released software patches to adjust the clocks on your computer. Go to Microsoft.com and Apple.com to download these fixes. Or simply change the time on your desktop manually.
It’s a good idea to keep something on your desk with the correct time, in case your computer doesn’t so you can be sure your computer is telling the correct time, says Ulanoff.
If you have a PDA like a Palm or a Blackberry, you should also go to their respective Web sites to see what you need to do. And remember, this time change problem will happen again in November when Daylight Savings ends later than usual.
The decision to extend Daylight Savings Time affects only the United States. So if you’re accustomed to making a lot of international calls, keep in mind that someone overseas may not have any idea about the time change.
And remember to be on the lookout for scam artists. During the next two weeks consumers may receive a number of e-mail offers that promise to fix the Daylight Savings Time problem, pretending to be your bank or your credit card issuer.
Remember, never give away any information about you or your financial affairs. If you have questions about your software or other gadgets, you should go directly to the source, by call the company directly or visiting their Web site.
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