To keep the workfare programme alive silly
:
Actually one of the biggest problems is the way the IT is programmed. As usual politicians believe the answer is in technology and the puter will solve the problem
As I am having a boring afternoon I thought it may be nice share the yawns
Here are just some of the systems available and used when compiling the no fly lists, there are I understand more sensitive databases used as well which are not in the public domain, a hit on your name or similar anywhere will cause delays, problems, cock ups and all round frustration!
CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) DOS
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) makes entries into this database.
- NCIC (see below) is now integrated into CLASS
CCD (Consolidated Consular Database)
- contains SEVIS (see below) data for consulars to access.
NCIC (National Crime Information Center)
- contains criminal record information for police to check when they stop or arrest someone.
- NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System)
- above systems contain more than 7 million names, including information from state/local law enforcement agencies (including charges such as "shoplifting," DWI, etc.)
NAILS II (National Automated Immigration Lookout System II) DHS
- NIIS (Nonimmigrant Information System), containing nonimmigrant visa denial information, arrival/departure/overstay (I-94) information.
IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)
- ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)
TECS (US Customs' Treasury Enforcement Communications Systems)
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
NSEERS (National Security Entry Exit Registration System)
APIS (Advanced Passenger Information System)
ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)
IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)
IDENT (Automated Biometric Identification System)
CLAIMS 3 (Computer Linked Application Information Management System)
CHIMERA
US VISIT
TAL (Technological Alert List)
Now factor into that lot a very common computer function called SOUNDEX is utilised. Soundex is
not a system, it is a function.
example:
SELECT SOUNDEX ('katy'), SOUNDEX ('katie');
this would return a number specific to the pronunciation of katy and a number associated with the pronunciation of katie. in this case each would return "K300" which basically indicates that the two's pronunciation is close.
Now soundex is not a system, it is just an algorithm that compares two strings and their associated characters to a pre-assigned values.
A quick look at a basic overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex would explain to an average 10 year old why this is going to result in an outrageous number of false hits and the Cat Stevens scenario referred to earlier in this thread.
