Is Your Computer Daylight-Saving-Ready?

New Date For Annual Time Change Could Wreak Havoc On Our Lives

(CBS)  In today's tick-tock world, being off by just a few minutes can mean missing an important meeting or watching the train leave without you, CBS News correspondent Daniel Sieberg reports.

But what if whatever you use to tell time, is suddenly off by a whole hour? That's what some people are worrying will happen Sunday morning when we spring forward three weeks earlier than usual.

"It's an annoyance and it's an inconvenience," says Jonathon Giffin, a Georgia Tech professor.

Giffin says in this computer-dominated society, there are plenty of places this problem could strike if systems are not properly reprogrammed in time — everything from hotel wake-up calls to cell phone billing.

"Now we have systems that automatically update clocks for you, and if those systems are not properly patches, they'll update the time incorrectly," Giffin says.

How did we get here? Well, Congress changed the way daylight-saving time works with a little provision in a massive energy bill in 2005. The idea is that more daylight in the evening will mean less use of electricity. But some experts are skeptical it will have much of an effect, and it could cause problems for consumers.

Circuit City's Todd Cooper says some products can be changed manually, but you'll need some technological know-how to change the clock on some sophisticated gadgets.

"For personal PC users, it can be a major issue if they are using time-sensitive programs they need to update," Cooper says.

Cable companies should be on top of the situation. You don't have to do anything to make sure your favorite show is on a certain time and you want to record it, Cooper adds.

For those who are worried about this new headache, there's at least one thing that's easy to start with: For manual clocks, all you have to do is turn the dial.

[peaceforusa]

I am with you newster1...where does the government get off messing with our time like this. I hate it. We don't need this change and they know it. It is just one more way for them to keep their control over the people. Maybe we should just start a petition drive and calling and writing our gov, state reps, etc, and make them quit messing with the time.

[wilsonj9]

"It's an annoyance and it's an inconvenience," says Jonathon Giffin, a Georgia Tech professor.

Heaven forbid anyone should have to put down their cell phone or stop their IM session for 5 minutes to install a patch.

Oh the humanity!

[BWTURNER]

WHERE DO YOU GO TO MICROSOFT FOR THE DOWN LOAD FOR THIS MESS .

[erasmus6]

What's the panic? They thought something was going to happen in 2000 and it didn't. I doubt that anything will happen this time either.
What is the big deal about changing the clocks back 3 weeks early? I kind of like having more daylight hours.

[elgraz]

Look up. The sky is falling. Oh My!!!!!!!!!

[maedean]

Just leave the time in one place. You save nothing with changing the time around every year. On the fall change you make the electric company big money because it is dark by 5:30.Arizona don't change and they live just fine without this stupid time change. For those of you who want an extra hour in the summer get your *** out of bed an hour early and leave the rest of us alone.How can the goverment be so stupid and expect the rest of us to have to follow.

[michellem99-2009]

I visited Microsoft site and made sure the patch got down loaded plus I have my up dates on. I have XP Home SP2. It was XP in late 06. I know how to set the system's clock plus the digital time keepers in the home.I am a low vision older person so I welcome extra day light. I hope this is the last time Congress tinkers with the time. I Googled the new time changes found interesting reading. We will get use to it after everything works they should. I just have to wait. I done my part.