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All we can do is hope the terrorists are using DOS 3.0
Things are looking up!
A new FBI computer program designed to help agents share information to ward off terrorist attacks may have to be scrapped, the agency has concluded, forcing a further delay in a four-year, half-billion-dollar overhaul of its antiquated computer system. [...]
Requests for proposals for new software could be sought this spring, the officials said. The bureau is no longer saying when the project, originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2003, might be finished. [...]
The prototype’s main feature allows users to prepare documents and forward them in a usable form.
Eventually, the FBI expects to have software with added features for managing records, evidence and other documents, along with the ability for users to collaborate on documents and share information online.
Gee, let’s hope that one day, if we live to be old enough, we can experience such a magical world.
r@d@r said,
January 13, 2005 at 22:47
fascinating…as i understand it, is what those fellows are talking about some sort of…if i might coin a phrase…”portable data format”?
jolly good to have something like that around the office – this damned mimeograph machine is killing me!
mac said,
January 13, 2005 at 22:52
I kept waiting for the punchline.
Got to be a joke, right?
Please?
Man, we are so …
Alena said,
January 13, 2005 at 23:34
You left off part of the article:
Cap'n Phealy said,
January 14, 2005 at 0:27
Don’t know nothin’ ’bout SQL.
Never learned any HTML.
Haven’t ever used FTP.
Never heard of any mail called “e”.
But I know it’s a solid bet,
If they’d just invent an internet,
What a wonderful world it would be…
The Dark Avenger said,
January 14, 2005 at 1:37
Alena:
It’s the same technology that powered the Seaview in the old Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea TV series.
FlipYrWhig said,
January 14, 2005 at 1:53
I heard they identified Charles Babbage as a prospective vendor. They’ve heard great things about this splendid “engine” of his.
Anonymous said,
January 14, 2005 at 5:23
Na na na na na na-na-na, bi-na-ry
Na na na na na na, tcp / ip
Na na na na na na-na-na, overdue
Na na na na na na, over budget too
…
Uncle Mike said,
January 14, 2005 at 5:29
Does everybody at the FBI also wear an onion on his or her belt?
salvage said,
January 14, 2005 at 15:17
This “collaborate on documents and share information online” business smacks of witchcraft.
Yosef said,
January 14, 2005 at 19:09
As if there weren’t enough internets already, now the FBI is trying to make one!
Jim said,
January 14, 2005 at 19:39
Didn’t the DoD *invent* TCP/IP?
And it sounds like all the features they need were available in Office 97. If they can’t do better than that, we’re in serious trouble.
jeff said,
January 14, 2005 at 23:00
I know MS Office is expensive, but would it have cost them 1/2 billion dollars??
Bryan said,
January 15, 2005 at 6:06
Apparently under the Bush “No Major Corporation Left Behind” act government agencies are required to pay full retail price, buy the full software support license, use the 900 number for software support, and hire Halliburton to install the software on every machine purchased.
WKD said,
January 15, 2005 at 7:53
You know Wollcot is linking you now? And crediting you for the Sadly, No phrase.
Should have guessed, Wollcot linking a frenchman. Why does he hate America so?
WKD said,
January 15, 2005 at 7:54
You know that I can’t spell? But I can drink gin, so who the fuck cares?
Scott Lemieux said,
January 15, 2005 at 17:11
Hey, but you can play some cool games on the Commodore 64 the head of the FBI gets!