On Tue, 14 Jun 2005, Joshua Halpern
It is a poorly known fact that many computerization projects either fail or do not live up to expectations or performance predictions. Recently, the FBI's new virtualized case file computer system, form $ 170 million was declared a total failure. Now, they say another system will replace it (will it do any better?), and for more money.
Last year, one of the computer trade rags gave a summary of how bad computerization can be. 20-30% of projects-upgrades fail so miserably that they are written off. Around 60-70% have significant shortcomings, but they companies live with the shortcomings.
An article I might still be able to find from the WSJ also documents that many corporation networks have actually gone back, from mouse-graphics, to command-line software and terminal-mainframe systems because it is time-proven while the new stuff just didn't work or didn't work well or didn't work well enough.
The unforseen problems can be serious. Rogue wireless, hackers, viruses, spyware, all the rest cost money. Upgrades, support, patches, and maintenance for hardware, software are items few people really appreciate.
Paper? Just stick it back into the folder, and alphabetically put it back in the shelf cabinet. Doesn't need electricity, doesn't burn out, doesn't crash, can't be hacked. I do some part time billing work in a solo practice health office. We have well over 500 paper case files, average one inch in thickness, HIPAA compliant, and at the end of the day goes behind a locked door or locked metal file cabinet. Almost infinitely safer than ChoicePoint, LexusNexus, and several other hack cases in the recent media.
Computerised medical records are so much fun. 3048straydog cut Did you enjoy the 1996 Australian federal election? Quite a few IT firsts occured during that time, although they are mostly forgotten now. First time ever the public could communicate electronically...
At the beginning of the day, computer files restored back on office computer, end of the day double copied onto backup zip disks and all working files deleted on the HD and free space zero overwritten.
If we ever have to train a person, showing them the physical storage locations and they can figure out the alphabet. Probably would take about two minutes including the time to walk from our first floor to our second floor. On a computer, we'd have to spend hours training someone on the hardware, software, office directories, what else to do. I figure a week based on what I know I do. We need to print one billing form that gets mailed out. I use WordPerfect for DOS and it works fine, faster than more recent software, cheaper, simpler, safer, and it runs on old hardware that no one would want to steal.
I'd hate to be a SysAdmin for a hospital. Took someone to the hospital a while back for a procedure....all of their receptionist desks were abandoned and we asked a guy who was at one desk what's up; he said they just got a virus and the whole hospital network is shut down.
Human errors and paper? What makes you think this won't happen during keyboard entry or screen reading with computers?
