ADVERTISEMENT

Those dealing with technology on a daily basis know that it tends to be a love hate relationship. While programs and gadgets of all sorts can undoubtedly make our lives easier, they can also become the cause of repetitive headaches, especially when malfunctions are involved.

Be that as it may, some failures result in some rather amusing situations. (If not at that moment, then in hindsight, at least.) If you find that difficult to believe, try stopping yourself from giggling as you scroll through the list of software glitches waiting for you just below this text—they might not be funny when you’re the person having to deal with them, but they are when your software is running smoothly; for that brief period that they are, at least.

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with an expert in computer science and electrical engineering, professor at University of Ottawa, Dr. Timothy C. Lethbridge, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

#1

When Your Airline's Software Is Being A Misogynist

When Your Airline's Software Is Being A Misogynist

DrJewelKling Report

You May Also Like:
#2

I Have No Words

I Have No Words

TechExpert2910 Report

#3

Scheduling A Vaccine At Walgreens And All Of The "Yes" Options Say "Forks"

Scheduling A Vaccine At Walgreens And All Of The "Yes" Options Say "Forks"

18002221222 Report

It’s no secret that nowadays we are not only used to, but somewhat dependent on technology, as it has become such an important part of our daily routines. That’s what makes software malfunctioning even more painful—something you once considered your ally has turned against you, likely at the moment when you needed it the most. (I am not sure what law it is, but technology always seems to fail us at the worst possible time.)

While glitches and failures show that there’s still room for improvement—or that it’s time to visit a repair shop—software engineering has been developing in leaps and bounds over the decades (since the 1950s, at least, when the term ‘software’ was coined), and there seems to be no end in sight.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

I Overcharged My Phone

I Overcharged My Phone

Byozde Report

#5

Thanks For The Warning?

Thanks For The Warning?

awl111126 Report

In a recent interview with Bored Panda, professor of computer science and software engineering at University of Ottawa, Dr. Timothy C. Lethbridge seconded the idea that software engineering has been developing at a very rapid pace over the years.

In his opinion, some of the biggest leaps in software engineering include moments when certain new languages and 'frameworks' have appeared, when computing 'in the cloud' became dominant, when mobile software started to work well, when automated testing started to be widely used, and when software engineers could look up a certain answer on the web when they get stuck. “Now, a tool like ChatGPT can help software developers,” he added.

#6

I Think It'll Be A Bit Cold

I Think It'll Be A Bit Cold

Designer-Albatross58 Report

#7

Where The Hell Am I Going To?

Where The Hell Am I Going To?

TOP_MCG Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Your Speed Is What?

Your Speed Is What?

y2khardtop1 Report

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Dr. Lethbridge, even the smallest errors in a software can lead to big problems, many of which tend to be safety critical. But depending on the kind of ‘glitch’ the software is experiencing, the reasons for its presence might differ.

In the expert’s eyes, software glitches could be categorized into 5 groups, the first one being freezes, slowness, and failures caused by bad network connections (either on our own device or somewhere else). The key root causes for such an inconvenience, according to him, can be inadequate or nonexistent network connection, excessive data transfer, bits of data arriving in the wrong order, or a cyberattack (overloading the network).

#9

I Don't Know What My Car Wants

I Don't Know What My Car Wants

maddog18476 Report

#10

Can’t Wait For Ahsoka To Come Out In 977 Years

Can’t Wait For Ahsoka To Come Out In 977 Years

DARKGAMER_666 Report

#11

Solving America's Tipping Culture Problem

Solving America's Tipping Culture Problem

RexIsAMiiCostume Report

ADVERTISEMENT

The second type of glitches entail slowness and freezes caused by extreme popularity resulting in overload (for example, a sports app in a major game or opening day of a big sale), which happens because of lack of planning for capacity to process all the requests at peak times.

#12

This Could Take Forever

This Could Take Forever

JumpingJehosiphat Report

#13

I Guess My Delivery Driver Is Doomed To Failure

I Guess My Delivery Driver Is Doomed To Failure

ZuckerbergsSmile Report

#14

I Burned So Many Calories, I Am Air Now

I Burned So Many Calories, I Am Air Now

Friendly_demon_Ash Report

The third group of glitches include freezes or incomplete results caused by an outage at a 'server' (one of the computers providing the service over the network). It can happen as a result of a crash due to many kinds of bugs, a cyberattack on the server, or a planned maintenance or update, Dr. Lethbridge explained.

#15

My Answers Are All Wrong, Somehow

My Answers Are All Wrong, Somehow

enny7921 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

I Am A Bit Of A Celebrity As You Can See

I Am A Bit Of A Celebrity As You Can See

frituurgarnituur Report

#17

I Think I Found Atlantis

I Think I Found Atlantis

AegleBird Report

Some glitches can also be user experience (UX) defects. “Much software is always too slow due to being built using overly complex components,” Dr. Lethbridge told Bored Panda. “In addition to that, confusing labels, feedback, and instructions leading the user to do the wrong thing, get confused or get stuck.”

Glitches based on UX defects can also be related to excessively complex user interface, making it hard to do the work or leading users to do it wrongly (for instance, too many steps, or steps that are difficult to do without making mistakes).

Then there’s also bad design making it impossible for some users to do something (for example, forcing you to enter a postal code in a country that does not use them) or bad translations when converting software to another country or language, the expert pointed out.

#18

Power Went Out For A Second And Sent The System Spiraling At Work

Power Went Out For A Second And Sent The System Spiraling At Work

DachlesLeSerg Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

The Sims Glitches Never Fail To Amuse

The Sims Glitches Never Fail To Amuse

Ornery_Delay_445 Report

#20

Today Is Flat-Earthers' Day

Today Is Flat-Earthers' Day

Spetterman66_on_rblx Report

The last group of glitches are software’s wrong answers or outcomes, such as a Maps app sending you round and round in circles, or a product on sale being sold for free or delivered to the wrong address.

This group can also comprise glitches caused by bad data in the system entered by humans or corrupted by earlier glitches, bad algorithms (for example, mixing up imperial vs. metric units, or making excessive rounding errors in computations), the software not considering special cases or large cases or 'edge cases' (for instance, limiting the number of kids in a family to 4), or a cyberattack or hacking designed to get the system to do the wrong thing.

#21

I Don't Know If I'm Right Or Wrong

I Don't Know If I'm Right Or Wrong

Ecstatic_Future_893 Report

#22

If You Think You Are Procrastinating

If You Think You Are Procrastinating

Epic1024 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

A New Emotion

A New Emotion

bubble-sys Report

If this list made you laugh instead of crying and you would like to browse some more similar content, we have you covered—continue to our previous edition on instances of software giving up on people and delve even deeper into the wondrous world of software engineering. Happy scrolling!

#24

Out Of Smiles

Out Of Smiles

SYHR101 Report

#25

Yes... 24/7

Yes... 24/7

bingbongeee Report

#26

Finally, I Can Watch All My Favorite Films In Unknown Language

Finally, I Can Watch All My Favorite Films In Unknown Language

reddit.com Report

#27

I Don't Think That's How Time Works

I Don't Think That's How Time Works

vedri27 Report

#28

The Process Has

The Process Has

denislol1230 Report

#29

So Close

So Close

Ayilari Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

You Know The Drought Has Been Rough When Starbucks Is Like This. Thanks For Nothing Starbucks, Didn’t Realize Water Was A Seasonal Item

You Know The Drought Has Been Rough When Starbucks Is Like This. Thanks For Nothing Starbucks, Didn’t Realize Water Was A Seasonal Item

Kewwers Report

#31

Being 6 Ft Does Exist

Being 6 Ft Does Exist

evilsnowcookie Report

#32

My Nothing Watch Shows Negative Step Count

My Nothing Watch Shows Negative Step Count

Gowdamn Report

#33

Robot Vacuum Got Confused And Thought It Had Just Discovered A Lost Realm

Robot Vacuum Got Confused And Thought It Had Just Discovered A Lost Realm

jhwblender Report

#34

Nice Beard

Nice Beard

TennisBallyes Report

#35

I Think There Might Be An Error Preventing This Slide Show From Playing

I Think There Might Be An Error Preventing This Slide Show From Playing

Phoenix_BFN Report

#36

Windows Moment

Windows Moment

kboof Report

#37

What Is A Democrdoes?

What Is A Democrdoes?

AdditionDirect1490 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

What Is It Asking Me To Do?

What Is It Asking Me To Do?

93Volvo240 Report

#39

The Baby Monitor Has A Temperature Sensor. I Think It Is Time To Turn The Air Conditioning On

The Baby Monitor Has A Temperature Sensor. I Think It Is Time To Turn The Air Conditioning On

Kowallaonskis Report

#40

"Hollow Knight" Game Has Infected Every App On My Computer

"Hollow Knight" Game Has Infected Every App On My Computer

Raagarah Report

#41

Where Is It Going?

Where Is It Going?

laenotabee Report

#42

One Of These Options Are Not Like The Others

One Of These Options Are Not Like The Others

thatwas2funny Report

#43

I Heard The Amber Alert Sound And Grabbed My Phone Only To See This

I Heard The Amber Alert Sound And Grabbed My Phone Only To See This

Embarrassed-Bass1907 Report

#44

It Appears That Windows Is... Confused

It Appears That Windows Is... Confused

JakDotExe Report

#45

The Pyramids Were Built By Aliens Apparently

The Pyramids Were Built By Aliens Apparently

LurkerAtHome Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#46

This Is The Only Way I Can Make A Warranty Claim On My Defective Mouse

This Is The Only Way I Can Make A Warranty Claim On My Defective Mouse

LawlessCoffeh Report

#47

My Friend Sent Me This Screenshot From A Game He Plays. “Seems Like A Good Deal” He Said

My Friend Sent Me This Screenshot From A Game He Plays. “Seems Like A Good Deal” He Said

KidpoolStan Report

#48

Charging At Twice The Speeds

Charging At Twice The Speeds

unallocated_mushroom Report

#49

According To My Phone, A New Ice Age May Have Begun

According To My Phone, A New Ice Age May Have Begun

DkF10 Report

#50

This Was A Few Months Back. I Don't Know If This Is Software Glitch Or That The Driver's Having A Day-Off

This Was A Few Months Back. I Don't Know If This Is Software Glitch Or That The Driver's Having A Day-Off

haleythefisher Report

Note: this post originally had 140 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.