CENSUS

Fulvio · August 19, 2016, 01:57:10 PM

Quote from: 'Ozcoins' pid='94981' dateline='1471563775'Everyone with any clue knows it is possible to design and implement something to do the census, so these guys proved nothing.

But your analogy isn't equivalent.

Online systems comprise two components.

Hardware and Software.

Hardware for such an application would comprise the machines, data centres, network infrastructure, power, cooling and of course security.

All of which already exist in places like this:

AND, they're for rent. To anybody. For cheap.

Now, I've worked in such places. I watched one being built in South Melbourne, and because we were a government department, everything was gold-plated. From triple-redundancy diesel generators (which were never once used in the 15 years the place lasted) to military-grade physical access controls complete with armed security guards (in case the russians or whoever stormed the building, I guess).

While you wouldn't replace such a centre for the daily operations of a major government department, there is no reason at all not to use a cloud provider such as Amazon for a one-hit wonder like the census. Their specs are actually much higher than anything we ever did, that's for sure.

And then there's software.

At the end of the day, its just a series of instructions written in one of a number of possible languages by humans. It can be simple or complex, yet do the exact same job. And the more bells and whistles you throw in, the more complex and expensive it becomes.

But there is no inherent quality difference between a line of code written by a guy on $150,000 working for a contractor charging him out at $200/hr and a line of code written by a student for a couple of slices of pizza. I would even go so far as to say the kid will likely write BETTER code that runs faster, cheaper and more reliably than the expensive 'professional'.

And yes, I've been both of those guys, and my own output deteriorated once the 'spark' got hammered out of me by bureaucracies. I eventually grew to hate what I was doing, and went and drove a truck instead.

robbiegal · August 19, 2016, 09:25:21 PM

electronic census worked for us today

JeffH · August 21, 2016, 01:47:26 PM

The actual cause of the on line stuff up is revealed.

I have the knack of being able to stuff up a room full of computers with the click of a mouse and often have people exclaiming in response to my pathetic pleas for help: ''Wow! I have no idea – I've never seen that before'' while looking over my shoulder at what's on the screen (''Losing our senses over the census'', August 14). So confession time: I think that while I was online filling out the census form on August 9 ... well, the rest is history. Sorry for the inconvenience folks.
Alicia Dawson Balmain Letter to the editor, Sun Herald, today. :laugh2:

Fulvio · August 21, 2016, 02:57:17 PM

Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='95246' dateline='1471753046'Alicia Dawson Balmain

I'm pretty sure I know her. Or at least many people just like her anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp-uKlhXvmo

JeffH · October 24, 2016, 12:39:37 PM

The ABS just doesn't seem to be able to win a trick. Is it just bad luck or bad management?
Field workers who rescued Census for ABS haven't been paid

Fulvio · October 24, 2016, 02:39:56 PM

trout · October 25, 2016, 05:31:34 AM

Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='100374' dateline='1477274977'The ABS just doesn't seem to be able to win a trick. Is it just bad luck or bad management?
Field workers who rescued Census for ABS haven't been paid

I bet the people that supplied the failed computer system got their money though .

JeffH · August 18, 2017, 11:50:08 AM

Well the ABS is getting another chance. This letter (to the Editor) writer is obviously a student of past form...

I have every confidence that the ABS will be able to use the experience and professionalism it drew upon in the recent census to adequately measure community support for same-sex marriage. The result: 346 people for and 98 against.
John Stahel, Braidwood
:laughingneqw:

Fulvio · August 18, 2017, 01:46:43 PM

ROFL!

Ozcoins · August 18, 2017, 01:58:50 PM

Thanks Jeff.
Its hllarious. Then you realise it is true and wonder if you should really be laughing....

Fulvio · August 18, 2017, 03:58:16 PM

Quote from: 'Ozcoins' pid='110884' dateline='1503030530'Then you realise it is true and wonder if you should really be laughing....

I'm currently watching Utopia. Exactly the same... :angel:

Ozcoins · August 23, 2017, 08:37:07 AM

Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='110885' dateline='1503037696'
Quote from: 'Ozcoins' pid='110884' dateline='1503030530'Then you realise it is true and wonder if you should really be laughing....

I'm currently watching Utopia. Exactly the same... :angel:

I have not watched utopia, but I have seen a couple of ads for it and it looks very good.

Hercules · August 23, 2017, 09:54:17 AM

Quote from: 'Ozcoins' pid='110952' dateline='1503443227'
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='110885' dateline='1503037696'
Quote from: 'Ozcoins' pid='110884' dateline='1503030530'Then you realise it is true and wonder if you should really be laughing....

I'm currently watching Utopia. Exactly the same... :angel:

I have not watched utopia, but I have seen a couple of ads for it and it looks very good.

I watched one episode of it, but I decided that Yes (Prime) Minister was about 10x better. :laugh2: