Slashdot Mirror
Computers May Thwart 2010 Census
smooth wombat writes "With the Constitutionally mandated census of 2010 just around the corner, it appears the Commerce Department's attempt to use handheld computers to gather census information may not come to fruition. Originally, the contract was awarded at a cost of $596 million to Harris Corporation. However, the GAO has now estimated the revised contract, now costing $647 million, could grow to $2 billion and the equipment may still not work properly. There is consideration that the paper and pencil method might have to be employed to complete the census."
The bloat is occurring because the project is not open-source, it could be done for pennies, but would take 20 years to complete.
How amazed would you be to suddenly find that you just forgot what I wrote and you needed to reread my post.... again.
Yeah punched cards seem to have worked well for Florida ...
Yo Chad, whats hangin?
Lets hope not. The population of the West Coast and the North East combined would come out at zero!
Squirrel!
I'm pretty sure MacGyver did his own 1985 census with a paperclip, a piece of scotch tape, and 3 guys he found standing outside a Home Depot in Tucson.
...And, since this is the government, instead of fixing the problem by requiring individuals who are qualified and competent to administer the census...
And, what, exactly, do you have against equal opportunity?
Clear, Dark Skies
Uhhh, $1 billion is 100 times $1 million. So she would've been back in 300 years, not 3000. People in stone houses shouldn't throw bricks moron.
Google doesn't seem to think so....
People in stone houses shouldn't throw bricks moron.Indeed.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.