The names that break computer systems

Credit: Olivia Howitt

Forget choosing the correct password – what if you can’t even enter your name into a computer system? This BBC report from 2016 shows how difficult life can be for people with names like Jennifer Null and Janice Keihanaikukauakahihulihe’ekahaunaele. Forms often can’t deal with people who only have one name, or a single-letter surname, or names that are longer than expected. Find out how technology is slow to catch up with these “edge cases” – that is, unexpected and problematic cases for which the system was not designed.