2010 Census’ High-Tech Computer Problems Could Cost Americans Billions
Given an over 150 point drop in the Dow Jones last week one can only be amazed that the government is looking at spending more than $11 billion to perform the first high-tech census in 2010. However, that is not the worst of it since due to technology problems an additional $2 billion may be needed to train and use this new technology and there is still no guarantee of accuracy. One first indication that there was cause to worry was seen when door-to-door headcounters couldn’t figure out their fancy new handheld computers.
So what did these gadgets promise to do? Well, initially, the computer system was to have had several functions:
- Workers would use the handheld computers to verify every residential address in the nation, a process that is crucial to ensuring an accurate count.
- They would use the computers to collect and transmit information from residents who failed to return the census forms mailed out by the government.
- The computer system would track and manage workflow for all field operations.
- Harris Corp. would provide technical support for the computer system.
It must be acknowledged, however, that the census has been mandated by the Constitution to take place every 10 years and its success or failure could have widespread repercussions.
Why is it so important? Well, these figures are used to apportion the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the states and states and many cities use census data to draw legislative districts.
Additionally population numbers are used to calculate billions in state and federal grants for transportation, education and other programs. For more information regarding the Census, you can go here.
Thankfully, the uncertainty surrounding the new census has caused a congressional agency to hold hearings about the issue and Census officials are considering a return to using paper and pencil to count every man, woman, and child in the nation.
The main problem with the use of these high-tech devices is that the Census Bureau needs to hire and train nearly 600,000 temporary workers but interviews and government reports describe the agency as totally unprepared to do this. First the Census Bureau has never had to deal with the kind of $600 million contract involved with the handheld computers and secondly, it has already been discovered that the computers were too complex for some temporary workers who tried to use them in a test last year.
Given the complications with the proposed high-tech devices it appears that the current administrators of the census and the ones to make the above contract are seriously trying to scale back the use of computers in an attempt to keep finances in check.
Tags: 2010 census, Census Bureau, computers, Harris Corp. temporary workers, high-tech devices
