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."

Open source

[Missing_dc]

The bloat is occurring because the project is not open-source, it could be done for pennies, but would take 20 years to complete.

Re:Any history buffs out there?

[xav_jones]

Yeah punched cards seem to have worked well for Florida ...

Re:Any history buffs out there?

[Creepy Crawler]

Yo Chad, whats hangin?

Is Diebold making the computers?

[Tired and Emotional]

Lets hope not. The population of the West Coast and the North East combined would come out at zero!

Who can you call?

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:Anyone have any idea...

[porkchop_d_clown]

...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?

Re:How to get big numbers across

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:How to get big numbers across

[SlashWombat]

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.

Don't tell me, you must work for NASA! (No wonder the USA is falling behind in science!)

Re:How to get big numbers across

[Shakrai]

Uhhh, $1 billion is 100 times $1 million

Google [google.com] doesn't seem to think so....

People in stone houses shouldn't throw bricks moron.

Indeed.

Re:Why not use home PCs?

[LiENUS]

Just use the census bureau to audit people like the IRS does. There could be steep penalties for claiming more people live in your household than actually do.

Or if you say fewer people live in your house than actually do they could take away those extra people like the IRS!