MegaDots Is Year 2000 Compliant: MegaDots software contains virtually no date calculations or date manipulations. MegaDots software does not check the time or date, store the time or date, or use any time or date computations. We guarantee that MegaDots has no component that will cause any problems on any specific date, including the switch to the year 2000.
I have read of numerous individuals who have performed year 2000 tests on their computers or their networks by advancing or manipulating the date on their systems. If the dates are not properly reset after these tests, it is possible to have numerous problems. Examples of problems are having all user passwords expire, having software licenses expire. It is also possible to have problems with the MegaDots serializations if dates are manipulated and you run MegaDots with the incorrect dates. This is not a true "year 2000 problem", it is a problem caused by errors and poor controls while attempting to fix year 2000 problems.
The one potential weakness in MegaDots relates to the unlocking process on computers that being tested for year 2000 compliance by those who do not know what they are doing. MegaDots allows the user 60 days of use of MegaDots before requiring the user to provide an unlocking code (furnished by Braille Planet during the registration process). Around the year 2000, many people will be madly switching dates on their computers to get things fixed. On some computers, the current date may be set back some years before it is shifted back to the correct setting. This type of date shifting may cause problems for a date-sensitive unlocking process.
We ask that you pay attention to the date of your computer when you are installing MegaDots and are using it for the first time. If the date is wrong when you install, and it later is corrected, MegaDots may be fooled into thinking that a lot of time has elapsed. The effect may be to give you less time before you need to get your unlocking code. In the event of year 2000 telecommunications and post office problems outside of Braille Planet control, this need for an unlocking code may not be quickly resolved.
We believe that all organizations and individuals need year 2000 contingency plans. We use the serialization and unlocking process to help us obtain every end user's name and address. We do not believe that this purpose is so important that we would risk a user not being able to use the software due to communications difficulties beyond our control. Our contingency plan is to give customers more time to unlock their MegaDots for product shipped in late 1999.
If you already have one or more copies of MegaDots, we recommend that you carefully keep track of your unlocking codes. If you need assistance, we can help you create a master list of all serial numbers of MegaDots in use by your organization and their unlocking codes.