OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

The SOA or services oriented architecture approach would work well in Government.

To wit, all Government data should be consumable through webby intefaces such as SOAP, JSON strings or simple REST architecture.

Any citizen can design an interface to consume the data as a service.

I was in a hurry to post this first suggestion, so I didn't provide as many details as I should have. The "operating system" of America is our code of laws and regulations. Court verdicts, for example, are in the public domain, but are hidden behind an archaic for-pay access system. Carl Malamud downloaded all of them from the access system and put them on his website-- something the courts should have done themselves. Building codes are also public but often sold for $200 or so to make money for the agencies. Carl Malamud posted these codes online. And so forth.

The complexities of business and invention need not be compromised in supporting standard portal connections. The ability to connect to the rest of the world and access the strength of community the web has to offer is vital for all humanity to compete in future learning environments. The fundamental secure portal that this writing refers to is a high level secure portal connection, the device offers the user the immediate ability to connect and transmit or receive data on the move. It unifies what is technically possible and marketable into a single device. Vital statistics would be monitored and available to the user for analysis. Applications that enhance the user in interactions with the community at large offer advantages that right now while available, are weakened in usefulness by fragmented and independent design. The trends in communications design and embedded applications have made rapid acceptance in society. The convergence with green power generation from the user coupled with embedded applications that provide enhancements for connectivity would also assist in societies efforts to reign in cybercrime. A standard portal device will offer encryption levels that are hack proof and will be designed to ensure user privacy. A citizen standard connection portal, in the spirit of transparency the strength in the adoption lies in the societal acceptance. When all citizens have the power of connectivity to participate in the strength of community, opportunity for enhanced learning becomes more powerful as well.

The costs of governance have the potential for drastic reduction. By merely giving every person in America immediate connectivity no matter where they are in the world reduces the infrastructure costs of providing the services of government and society as a whole. By giving this level of possibility to all Americans the strength of what it means to participate in building success will become immediately apparent. The design of this device through peer review across the population’s diverse spectrum of scientists’, business leaders, social network professionals and government agencies, along with the public at large will give 21st century clout to the protection offered within the constitution.

Cyber security will be made highly affordable to implement as the standard would have the largest audience not only in its creation but as well in its deployment. Once deployed the increased connectivity to efficiently deliver the services primarily of government but of all aspects of societal interactions, will be the 21st century platform for all cumulative societal efforts engaged in national and global prosperity.

Wireless connectivity offers the most efficient transition to full participatory access for all Americans.