UK Police Can't Get Computers To Share Info Until 2010
from the fire-the-programmers dept
Ah, we love a good story about a technology boondoggle. Remember the "revolutionary" $230 million computerized baggage claim system in Denver that, massively delayed the opening of the new airport there, but also was never really used before being shut down completely? It looks like the UK police may be working on something to rival that. Apparently, they've invested in a ~$290 million computer system to let police better share data -- and the folks working on that project have just announced that, due to various problems, it won't be ready until 2010 at the earliest. Also, it sounds like various other components are being scaled back and delivered late at the same time. Yes, we realize that building such a large computer system, and making sure that it's secure, can be a complex task. However, taking five years seems a bit extreme. Not only does it raise questions about whoever is working on the project, it also makes you wonder just how obsolete the system will be by the time it actually rolls out.
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Is that for real?
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They mysteries of XML
Haven't these people heard of XML? Good grief, I do think I could assemble a team of my geek friends to do the job. I'd only charge them 289 million and have it done by mid 2009. :-)
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Re: They mysteries of XML
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Five Years?
Also, you didn't really hit the full point that it will be out "progressively" (which I highly doubt will be as effective as intended) from 2007-2010.
It's not really all that horrible, I find it a bit reasonable seeing as they entirely underestimated the time it would take.
It's still not as acceptable as it should be, but there's some skewing going on. ;)
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Technolgy bets that can't be backed up!!
Maybe we should work within the bounds of what's available and not what's going to be built.
Cutting edge technolgy is exactly that, sometimes all the pieces don't work together as planned.
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Pork
Not if you need to figure it out as you go.
A $290 million giant slab of bacon. It must have been an amazingly slick negotiatior who got this pork barrel ramrodded through.
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