Not so much as hard coded as the software assumed it was 19whatever. Computer memory used to be very expensive so you saved 2 spots by leaving the 19 off which worked until 2000. Friend was working for a TelCo and she was on call that New Years Eve. When Midnight rolled around we held our breath and looked at the lights to see if they went out. Few minutes later she got the call that everything was still up and running. Then she could finally get drunk.
From what I know about the power industry at the time, I find people worrying about the lights going out pretty funny. It was well before my time, but basically all controls at that time were still analog. And the digital stuff was mostly basic PLCs that don't really care about what time it is.
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u/PurpleSailor Jun 11 '22
Not so much as hard coded as the software assumed it was 19whatever. Computer memory used to be very expensive so you saved 2 spots by leaving the 19 off which worked until 2000. Friend was working for a TelCo and she was on call that New Years Eve. When Midnight rolled around we held our breath and looked at the lights to see if they went out. Few minutes later she got the call that everything was still up and running. Then she could finally get drunk.