The department put out a tender earlier this month for computer companies interested in developing and supporting an e-census system. Statistics NZ information management services general manager Graeme Osborne says it is likely Statistics will use Microsoft.Net technology to put census forms online, but the department isn't wedded to the idea.
"If someone can show they can build a high-performance system and operate it using other technology, then we don't really care."
Mr Osborne says the Microsoft-funded "proof of concept" study will help determine what is needed to build a secure and scalable system.
"We see the outcome of that being a white paper saying, 'if you were building this using Microsoft technology, this is what you would need to put in place'."
The results of the study will be available to all companies which bid to build an operational system, he says.
Mr Osborne expects the Innovation Centre will develop some software for testing which will be "thrown away" once the research is completed.
The study is one of several e-government initiatives receiving free assistance from Microsoft though its Innovation Centre in Wellington.
Microsoft has also agreed to fund projects proposed by Auckland and Northland district health boards in its latest funding round.
Quelle: Stuff, 15.12.2003
