Tech experts wary of more Obamacare glitches

[FarCenter]

Outside tech experts have offered all sorts of explanations for the meltdown, but only those with direct knowledge of the tech infrastructure know — and they are still working through it. And when they put out one fire, another one could flare up.

Some software engineers have suggested that the consumer end of the website, designed by one contractor, is not “talking to” the back end of the website, developed by a different company.

Diagnostic tools in Web browsers have identified coding issues that may be complicating account creation. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the administration is considering an overhaul of the registration system this weekend to allow people to browse health plan options without first creating an account. The paper said the tech experts are focused on a bottleneck where a flood of data meets an Oracle software component involved in identification verification.

But no one knows for sure whether or where other serious bugs lurk. Insurers and other businesses involved have complained about inadequate time to test the system after the already ambitious timetable was compressed because of delays in finalizing regulations for the Obamacare insurance exchanges and in signing off on contracts with insurers.

There have been some improvements since the rocky start; wait times are shorter and more people have been able to create accounts. But still, relatively few visitors to HealthCare.gov get through from start to finish — including registration, personal data submission, identity verification, tax credit eligibility and plan selection. And when the first obstacles come down and millions of people log on and try to complete each of these steps — any or all could turn into another choke point. There’s particular worry about that tax credit calculation, which determines how much of the premium people have to pay.

“If we are already running into issues at the user account stage, we’re going to run into a lot more issues when we get to the more complex operations at the [subsidy] eligibility determination,” said Leavitt’s Schuyler. “That’s the reality. It’s a very complex process, and I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/obamacare-aca-tech-experts-glitches-issues-problems-98202.html

It seems odd that you'd design an ecommerce site that requires customers to register and identify themselves before they browse product availability and prices.

On real ecommerce sites, most shopping carts are abandoned without the prospective customer identifying themselves.

[legcramp]

1. Amazon, B&N, EBAY and PAYPAL have spent years perfecting systems that would have handled this

Why are we trying to re-invent the wheel?

Instead they have Experian involved who even 60 minutes says has mistakes on 8 out of 10 consumer credit reports.

Just more ammo for the government can't do anything right people.

And I'm beginning to agree with them.

[BluegrassStateBlues]

2. What a shame.

As an apology to early users of Grand Theft Auto V's online mode, Rockstar Games on Friday announced plans to give all its online players $500,000 in in-game currency.

The "stimulus package" comes as a response to myriad technical issues many players faced when attempting to use the video game title's online mode, which is a first for the series.

"For players who experienced cloud server errors, connection issues, and lost game progress and characters in these first days of GTA Online, we hope this GTA$ helps to facilitate a fresh start or makes your continued life in Los Santos and Blaine County extra sweet," Rockstar said in a blog post.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57607134-235/rockstar-to-dole-out-$500k-stimulus-to-gta-v-online-users/?ttag=fbwp

Wherever the fine line is between combating piracy and user experience, Electronic Arts crossed it with a trouble-plagued launch of the new SimCity game this week.

Nearly three days after the public debut of the Maxis city-building game for PC, users around the world were still regularly unable to log onto EA servers to play it. Frustrated gamers were receiving various error messages indicating servers weren’t available or login was closed.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/03/08/new-simcity-a-failure-to-launch/

The update to iOS 7 has not been smooth sailing for all.

Many users on Twitter, as well as on Apple's support site are reporting issues when attempting to install the update, which went out earlier today.

Affected users are reporting that the downloads will stop, with a warning error pop-up that says the "software update failed." Others are saying they cannot connect to the iTunes Store to update apps.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57603512-37/ios-7-upgraders-reporting-installation-itunes-issues/

Oh, and a bit of nostalgia for Twitter users:

[legcramp]

3. A few examples of roll outs of new technology really don't cut it.

The ACA is nothing more than E-Commerce. Companies have been doing it for years. The whole thing could have been slapped up onto Amazon and been working just fine.

Create an account...

What's your name?

Where do you live?

How many in your family?

What's your income?

Etc., and so forth.

Based on the information you have provided here's your choices.

Need more suggestions?

Here's what other people have looked at.

Are you ready to buy? Click here!

It just isn't rocket surgery.

I recently ordered a birthday gift for my grandson from Amazon and had it shipped to a FOB in Afghanistan. It took 5 minutes.

He had it in 5 days.