Census takers' custom PDAs get shown off

We've already heard plenty about the custom PDAs that census takers will eventually be getting their hands on, but Popular Mechanics has now taken things one step further and actually gotten a hands on with the device itself (or at least the current form of it). As we knew before, the PDA is made by HTC and based on Windows Mobile, with Florida-based Harris Corp. handling the actual deployment of the devices, which are expected to eventually total some 500,000. While complete specs are obviously still up in the air (given that they won't be deployed until 2010), the devices will apparently boast 10 hours of battery life, and pack integrated GPS to keep all those census takers on the right track, not to mention a built-in dial-up modem to ensure they stay in touch when venturing beyond the boundaries of Sprint's data network. If that's not enough to whet your appetite, you can hit up the read link below for a video walk through of the device.

[David LaCagnina @ Nov 16th 2007 4:55PM]

Joy, more or our tax-dollars being frivolously spent.

[geognerd @ Nov 16th 2007 5:19PM]

Do you even know what census enumerators do? This device is not for turn-by-turn directions and farting around. This is for counting the residents of homes who have not turned in their Census forms. Far easier to fill in check boxes on a handheld PC than to carry around and fill in paper forms. This device could also be used to update the Census Bureau's TIGER mapping data. Far more accurate than marking up maps.

[BigD145 @ Nov 16th 2007 9:46PM]

@geognerd
Yes, I know what enumerators do. I've been one!! These mobiles are entirely not necessary and I don't even want to think about what would happen when such a small device gets left somewhere and disappears. If you know anything about the census, the resident data taken cannot be revealed for 72 years. I took an oath on this. The information in the "long form" is quite extensive. You don't want it mishandled. Paper and clipboards are big and obvious and hard to lose.

[BigD145 @ Nov 16th 2007 9:47PM]

Yes, this is more bogus crap like the touch screen voting machines and optical scanners. This will end badly!!!

[YouFaceTheTick @ Nov 16th 2007 5:20PM]

Wow, what a waste of money. Seriously, I'm the PM on many handheld software products and handhelds are fragile (especially non-Symbol junk like Dell, HTC, etc). I can't see how this will be cost effective with handheld failure, on-line access charges, software bugs, weather-related issues, coverage issues, census takers leaving loss/damage, training, charging, theft, etc.

[Shane @ Nov 16th 2007 5:32PM]

While a device made by Symbol would probably have been more rugged, this device from HTC (integrated by Harris) looks pretty solid as well. Harris is a huge supplier of technology for military and other government contracts. They do make some solid gear...

As for theft, it has a built in GPS and cellular data connection. You can be sure that the census bureau will know the whereabouts of these devices. In addition, I see what looks like a fingerprint scanner on this thing. I am sure it will be locked down so as to essentially be useless to anyone who shouldn't have access to it.

On the down side, however, I'm sure that since it is a government contract the devices will end up costing about 10x more than they probably should.

[01 @ Nov 16th 2007 5:22PM]

Are you people kidding? I would have killed for one of these when I was a field organizer. Unless you've done some type of door-to-door job, you really don't understand how hard it can be to find houses or even addresses in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Good up to the Census Bureau for investing in something that will actually produce improved results.

[Stellar @ Nov 16th 2007 5:44PM]

just think, if everyone actually filled out their forms, we wouldnt need to spend those tax dollars for 'the largest peace time' effort in the us. imagine that.

[Andrew @ Nov 16th 2007 5:49PM]

I helped a lost Census worker last year (Austin, TX) and she had a PDA with info on who she was supposed to question. I wonder if it was a pilot for this thing.

[Stellar @ Nov 16th 2007 5:56PM]

whatever it was, it wasnt as good/advanced as this thing.

[spacegravity4me @ Nov 16th 2007 5:57PM]

Finally something of theirs I can break and tell them to go to hell.

[Ben @ Nov 16th 2007 6:25PM]

01: The problem as I see it is not the use of a handheld per se. (unlike what others are saying) A handheld with GPS is definitely a great idea for census takers.

It's that this could have probably been implemented much cheaper with an off-the-shelf handheld with custom software.

[Dave B. @ Nov 16th 2007 7:02PM]

The whole structure is a waste of money/time. Why not set the whole thing up online and give incentives (tax break, credit, etc) for people who complete it. It could even go so far as to send an email when the data has been transformed into something the average person might find interesting or understandable.
This would also save a huge deal of paper (traditional) or electronics parts (new way with mentioned PDA).

[Primax @ Nov 17th 2007 3:01AM]

Ummm... I know it seems like internet sites are just there and they don't require setting up, managing and equipment but you may be surprised.

[Flavio @ Nov 16th 2007 7:36PM]

Here in Brazil the 2007 census also used PDA's for data collection. There were bought more than 80.000 Mitac's Mio P550 with GPS. The idea is to produce more de 1.000 extremely accurate indexes about the population spending much less money than the last census. More info: http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/

[Shahryar @ Nov 16th 2007 10:41PM]

*sheds tear
'
As a full-time census employee, seeing something so hi-tech that belongs to us makes me proud to be here.

... But I still like ripping on Census once in a while during my routines ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WVZClKV_eI

[YouFaceTheTick @ Nov 17th 2007 2:37AM]

Funny to see all the faith people have in a dead market product (PDAs) and the quality of the software used by our government. To each his own...

[halkonlar @ Nov 17th 2007 12:28PM]

Last time we had a census here in Colombia, South America, the census workers had PDAs. Worked incredibly well. I would think that if a developing nation could figure it out, the US could too.

[rsatter @ Nov 21st 2007 1:21PM]

First this is a constitutional mandated function of the government. The census information is used to redraw election districts, budgeting and economic planning. An error no matter how small can have devasting effects on a community especially smaller ones.

The main use of the device is to update addresses and maps (TIGER). These maps then are used by cartographers around the world. The more accurate the maps the better communities can do planning and oh yeah your map directions. Thus 100ks of Census workers will go out and literally walk almost every street in the US. The mapping is for verifying, add, delete and update streets and addresses. Electronic GPS coordinated map entry is better than lines on a paper map. Which then has to be inputted into TIGER.

A secondary use is when an address does not send back a survey. The Census has to send someone to that address. All of which is mandated by the Constitution.

Finally would you rather have your personnal data on paper which if lost can be read? Or would you rather have it stored in a device protected by strong encryption? I rather have my data encrypted.