1. Introduction
"To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer"
Computers are supposed to be more reliable and accurate than human beings. They are supposed to save money and reduce inconvenience. However, when computer systems go wrong, the effects can be dramatic. Consider the reasons for these failures. Some of these examples show bad programming, some show bad management within organisations, some show how we have become dangerously reliant on computers.
Same Old Silence, Same Old Mistakes - how money gets wasted on computer systems
Software Reality - True Stories of Development Hell
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N.B. Information that is out of date is unreliable and the Internet is the world's largest repository of out-of-date information. There are some good examples of that here:
Information about the Y2K Bug from the BBC
It's 78 days before the Year 2000 - here's what you need to do - from the LA Times
Letter from America - describing the tension before the Year 2000
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This can be seen as a computer disaster because many problems are said to have been caused by the automated counting system. The counting system was supposed to be more accurate and easier but there are those that said it is quite the opposite. Not only was the "butterfly ballot" said to be confusing, there was the problem with "hanging chads", "pregnant chads" and "perforated chads" that cast doubt on the validity of the computerised count.
Find all you need to know at these sites:
Background:
The Complete Bushisms - the wisdom of George W Bush
Al Gore demonstrates gun safety
What does this mean for Bill Clinton?
The Voting System
New Design of Amazon.com - do you find this confusing?
The ballot paper
The ballot paper - a Democratic perspective
The ballot paper - Republican perspectives
Thanks to David Pincus for finding much of this material
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Petrol Panic - is communication these days just too easy?
All in Vane? (dreadful pun) - Daily Telegraph article on the difficulty of predicting natural disasters
The ILoveYou Computer Virus - otherwise known as "The Love Bug"
Computer Over-Reliance - excellent examples including the collapsing stadium roof and the fictional example of HAL
Chinook Helicopter Crash - was it caused by badly written software?
Computer row fuels asylum issue - The government and the opposition blame each other but both made mistakes. Can you spot what they were?
NHS IT Strategy - an IT disaster in the making?
Government IT Outsourcing Disasters
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are welcomed
Email yatesatthekjs@yahoo.co.uk
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