Re: Smart Humans...
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Americans have more knowledge, less worry over Y2K, Gallup says.
Americans have grown much more cognizant in recent months of the computer-based booby-trap set for Jan. 1, 2000 - commonly known as "Y2K" or the "Millennium Bug." However, rather than widespread alarm or panic, this awareness has been accompanied by a marked decrease in public concern, according to the Gallup news service.
The American public's reaction to the Y2K issue is being tracked this year in a series of surveys conducted by the CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in partnership with the National Science Foundation. The latest, national survey of adults was conducted March 5-7 and updates benchmark trends established in December 1998.
Today 56% of Americans, up from 39% in December, say they have seen or heard "a great deal" about the glitch in computer programming which, if not fixed, will cause computer errors in comprehending the correct date and could potentially set off more severe computer problems. At the same time, the number of Americans who think Y2K-related computer mistakes around the world will cause "major problems" dropped to 21%, down from 34% in December. Similarly, the number who expect to personally experience major problems as a result of Y2K fell from 14-9%.
While they clearly don't see catastrophic consequences looming around Jan. 1, 2000, most Americans do expect the Y2K bug to spawn minor problems: a little over half anticipate minor problems in their personal lives, and two-thirds expect that minor problems will occur in society, Gallup says. |
