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Another recent FCC discovery is showing off a new mobile handset coming from HTC, dubbed the Census. The FCC document, unfortunately did not reveal many details about the Census, and we can mostly just make assumptions about its features based on what we see from the accompanying picture. Based on the image, the Census appears to have a fingerprint reader and bears a logo for the wireless technology company Harris. Likewise, the handset seems to have a touch-sensitive display as no keyboard can be seen, and the keypad is also not a standard numeric style. 

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The Census Bureau will not be going as high-tech in 2010 as originally planned, instead holding firm to the good old fashion pen and paper method. The lack of the GPS for census worked was due in part to “numerous glitches” that included the need for more workers as well as “recent increases in gas prices, postage, and printing.” That means that Congress is having to find an additional $3 billion to cover the cost, which could now rise as high as $14.5 billion.

The 2010 census, which will begin in March 2010 when the Census Bureau sends out a mailing to all US households, the 580,000 census workers will then be going door to door in an attempt of speaking with those that failed to return the form.

While the handheld devices will not be in the hands of all workers as hoped, it will not be entirely low-tech, the GPS-enabled Harris computers will instead be used prior to the actual census to compile what they are calling “the most accurate and comprehensive address list in the census’ history.” Here’s hoping to a better more tech-friendly 2020 census.

Read [CNET]