Many computer systems abbreviated a four-digit year to two digits.
The theory was computers would be unable to go from 99 to double zero as the new year dawned, making 2000 indistinguishable from 1900.
Worry was centred around banks, government, industry and global infrastructure like airports.
Companies and organizations worldwide checked, fixed, and upgraded their computer systems.
In Australia, bus-ticket-validation machines in two states failed to operate – because of the millennium bug - but in general – when the year 2000 dawned, the sun came up and the world did not end.
Discover more at sbs.com.au/sbs50
