Which equipment has embedded systems ?

One of the ways to estimate if a piece of equipment is likely to have problems is to consider whether it has a "timer", or has an internal clock.

A timer enables the user to set a period of time, such as twenty minutes, that the equipment should run for.

Equipment which only has a timer probably does not know, and does not care, what the time or date is, and is unlikely to be upset by the year 2000.

In contrast, equipment that has an internal clock allows the user to set the time and / or date. It allows the user to set up the equipment so that it starts or stops at some particular time or on some particular date.

It is possible that there will be problems with this equipment.

Equipment with timers

Within the domestic environment, equipment with timers typically include :-

Ovens with mechanical clocks
Microwave ovens with knobs to set the number of minutes
Toasters
Washing machines
Tumble driers
Dishwashers

It is unlikely that this equipment will have problems with year 2000, or indeed, any other date.

Possible problem areas

Still in the domestic environment, there might be problems in equipment which is time and / or date programmable.

These could include items such as :-

Video tape recorders
Televisions which can show time / date
Video cameras which load time/date into the picture
Other cameras which load time/date into the picture
Central heating controllers
Burglar alarms
Personal organisers
Mobile phones
Ovens and microwaves with key pads
Any other equipment on which time / date can be set

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