Top IT Project Fails of All Time

With information technology being the ubiquitous powerhouse that it is today, many may think that it can't put a foot wrong. These people would be wrong, though, as there have been many technology blunders in the past, from bad software development to mobile application developers who have - inadvertently or not - released virus-infected software onto millions of unsuspecting smart phone owners. But with technology being at the heart of everything nowadays - from the electronic chip in our passports to holding sensitive government information - the aforementioned blunders are small fry compared to potential disasters. In no particular order, here's a rundown of some of the most epic IT project fails ever.

• Y2K bug. Perhaps the biggest and most notorious of them all, the Y2K bug had the developed world gripped in fear in 1999, when everyone had been scared witless by a media blitz that all the computers would reset at midnight on January 1, 2000, leading to a crash. This bug would wipe out stocks, bank details, in fact pretty much anything digital - which is, of course, most people's entire lives now. Fear was widespread, because no one knew exactly what would happen - would it be the end of the world as we knew it? Would all our stocks and money vanish into thin air? Or would we be able to reset the clocks to the present day and restore the information from stored back-ups? Would the back-ups even work? The reality was an underwhelming relief; as the world watched the clock with bated breath, as the digital numbers flashed from 11:59 to 12:00, nothing happened. Computers remained on, stocks, shares and money stayed put, and the computers around the world showed the correct year. Aside from helping to shift a lot of newspapers, and perhaps a nuclear bunker to the particularly paranoid, it was a bona fide non-event.

• EDS and CSA. The Electronic Data Systems (EDS) left the Child Support Agency (CSA) in a spot of bother when the IT system spectacularly failed, leading to fewer than half of the 320,000 applications received being processed. With EDS providing 85 per cent of the Department of Work and Pensions' systems, the issue was monumental, leading to around 95,000 single parents missing out on owed payments, which amassed to a total of £45 million per year. To add insult to injury, the computer system, which was delayed by almost two years, cost £400 million to get running - something that those in developer jobs had to contend with.

• Siemens passport services. The National Audit Office revealed that Siemens computer system was not properly checked by those in IT jobs before being introduced to handle new passports, leading to problems amassing £12 million for the taxpayer. Immigration minister Damian Green revealed that Siemens received more than £265 million more than it should have done on a contract to build and maintain passport IT systems. The extra money was a result of fees charged to those applying for a new passport, in part due to the fees more than trebling since the contract began. In 1999, the cost for a standard passport was £21, or £31 for a passport issued over the counter. In 2011, that cost rose to £77.50 and £129.50, respectively. On top of that, thanks to passports not being able to be issued on time, at least 500 holidaymakers missed their departure dates. This was because Siemens' Passport Application Support System (PASS), created in 1999, had errors in scanning forms, and the extra processing time slowed down the issuing of passports quite dramatically.

Sarah A Jacob is editor in chief at EmptyLemon, one of the UK's leading IT jobs boards.

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Project Topics for Computer Science Students

One amazing thing about final year projects is that it can boost or mar your overall CGPA. So it's best to endeavor to make your project earn you nothing less than a B. This thread is dedicated to providing tips to assist undergraduates offering the course of computer science in any of our higher institutions of learning.

Getting a Project Topic:

Obviously, this is the first thing that one should think of. But the problem is how to go about it. Many students will search the web, libraries or other sources looking for topics that they could use. Sadly, after a topic might have been found, many students fail to fully understand the purpose for which the project was intended for. They only get to discover this during their project defense when the examining Project Co-coordinator points out this fact to them, but by then, its too late for excuses. The Marks are awarded... and its never an Alpha.

The thing about choosing a project title is that you should know what the title's all about! Only then can you begin to carry out research on it in the right dirction! Choose a title that is clear to you, that you understand. If its too Abstract for you, forgo it and look for one you can explain in your sleep to your curious younger brother when woken up at 1:00 am at night.

Choosing the best topic for your Project Defense: Okay, so you've picked a topic. You understand its aims and objectives intuitively. Is there any thing else that you need to know that can help you decide if the topic you have chosen is the best one for you?

Here's a tip.

Choose a topic that will solve something in your immediate environment. That way you will get more marks as you are targeting real-life issues in your society and you it will be viewed that you are using the knowledge gained from your soon-to-concluded-education to contribute to the developmental uplifting of your immediate environment.

Try not to choose a topic like:

"An Adaptive Programming Model for Fault-Tolerant Distributed Computing"

It may sound good and all but does it solve the immediate problems experience in a developing third world country like ours? Most of the topics that we gather online come from sources which belong to the developed world. The developed Nations have overcome the issues of constant electricity, cheap and affordable internet services and a conducive environment for living. So the type of project that their students will be solving will be research topics to discover new ways and algorithms for solving already existing solved problems like the one in the topic I gave above: Already there are many Adaptive Programming Models in existence but this project seeks to create one that will over come the problems associated with the already existing models. This project will be of use to the environment of the Developed World, since almost every aspect of their society is based on the computer, hence it makes sense to create models that will make them more fault tolerant so that they can function more efficiently. In many developing Nations like ours, where not even 2% of our society is based on the workings of the computer, of what real use will such a topic have for us? Why seek to improve a model that is not even in operation in our immediate environment? We have to think of this when choosing topics for our Final Year Projects.

Now consider this topic:

'Online NAFDAC Registration and Verification Solution"

Ever bought a drug and discovered that it did not work for you? Yet if you checked for the NAFDAC registration number you would see one. How can you be sure that the number wasn't just printed on the drug's container and is a fake one? Is there any way you can be sure that the NAFDAC registration number you see is real? How can you verify that claim? Is there an easily accessible medium by which ordinary members of the public like you and I can check to see if a drug has been registered without going through tedious bureaucratic procedures? If the drug cannot be verified is there a way we can report the fake drug to NAFDAC?

Looking at the above, we can clearly see that we have a problem predominant in our society that has yet to be solved. Why go perfecting algorithms and models when your people are in danger of consuming fake drugs-an issue that you can tackle with your acquired knowledge of computer science?

Now if you were a Nigerian Computer Science Professor and two students came up with their project titles, one the Model Improvement Title and the other, the NAFDAC Verification Title, which of the two titles would you believe if implemented would aid the Nigerian society more? Your guess is as good as mine!

Need to find similar topics relevant to our environment like the one above? Check Here

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Free Android Application Development Project Also Needs A Good Resource

BMW and Audi are the king of the automotive world, owing any of them has become a status symbol. Think of the time when Android application development had just entered the mobile development world and today, you will clearly feel that today it holds a similar status in the mobile development world. It is a Java based open source mobile operating system capable to make mobile devices equivalent to your personal computer. Immense popularity came to it for its unbelievable quality of music and high resolution videos, allowing users to capture their world in their mobile devices the way it looks to their eyes.

Those who use Android or are aware of it also know, each year thousands of Android applications are developed and distributed for free on the Android Market place. You might question, why distribute for free, when lots of money and efforts are put into Android application development. For the simple reason that building these applications and distributing them for free will bring lots of money to Android developers from marketing and creating brand awareness. Just think how many users around the world will be viewing your company Ad every time they load your application. Wait, there is something more to it, if the application is really good and liked by more people then you can also charge monthly fees for updates.

If you own a business, then your free Android application has all potential to bring your clients to your site. More and more people have started using mobile phones as their pocket computer, soon corporate America will be operating through these hand held devices, thereby increasing your reach to your customers. Let's take an example, by using a business application users can have access to their business sales reports and analyze their profits and losses at the tip of their fingers. Such applications also boost collaboration you can collaborate with any member you want to finalize your decisions regarding company matters.

Are you planning to have your own free Android application and planning to hire Android developer? Good, you will be making a perfect decision for your business's growth.

To make sure your Android application development molds into perfect shape it is important to hire Android developer carefully, you will not want to regret your hiring decision at a later stage. To be 100% sure about your hiring decision look for Android application development companies providing the option to hire Android developer from their team. This is not only a cost effective way of hiring but you will be also saved all the hardship involved in looking out for Android developers, testing their capabilities and still worrying if they will suit your project requirements. For best results ensure you have everything jotted down on paper to help you discuss your work with the developer you are considering.

Though you wish to make your application free for use, a good resource will ensure your success. A best resource will always make sure that all things are in place to make your application the best.

Ellen Wills is a professional Android app developer with high end expertise in Android App Development. Through these articles he aims to share his knowledge about the pulpit.

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