Autistic people prove valuable in software testing (Compu...

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Autistic people prove valuable in software testing (Computer Weekly)

Microsoft and Computer Science Corporation are among a number of companies that are using the skills of people diagnosed with autism within their software testing processes.

The companies found that people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders have a greater attention to detail than average, making them suitable for software testing.

Both companies hired staff and testing services from Specialisterne, a Danish consultant, which employs and trains people diagnosed with ASD, to provide software testing services.

Microsoft outsourced testing on its Windows Media Centre product and some of the testing of its business software to Specialisterne. IT consultants with ASD work on software testing tasks where other people would lose concentration. "This is not corporate social responsibility. We are using the service because it is comparable to other commercial testing services," said Microsoft.

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I saw a tv piece on this subject over the weekend -- maybe it was on 60 minutes or some other program like that -- and I literally started crying because finally people are realizing how valuable people with autism can be -- what great workers they are, their attention to detail, how sharp they are as employees. It's just great to see a job that actually WANTS people with autism.

Kris

Not a good PR for Specialisterne... Seeing how buggy MS products tend to be.

NTs have been testing MS products.

I think MS just started to hire those consultants as a way to improve the testing process.

Finally though, some people are seeing the benefits of hiring employees who may be different.

Once again, this is why i like Mircosoft over Apple, no matter what anyone says.