There are a myriad of new tools and technologies that will enable the administration to achieve its stated goals of transparency, participation, and collaboration in government. However, most of them haven’t even been invented yet.
The technology the government uses is far less important than the tools and technologies the government enables. Achieving true accountability and transparency requires leveraging the creativity and passion of citizens and organizations from across the nation. Therefore, the technological goal should be providing open data (timely, raw, and technologically neutral) rather than trying to identify and mandate specific types of technological solutions. This will enable new technologies to be developed to analyze and utilize the information in ways the government can’t even imagine today.
If the government focuses on making the data available, then smart, innovative citizens and organizations will build new tools that allow us to use and view the data in meaningful ways. Developer X might mix the data in a way that is most useful to you, and Developer Y might mash that data in a way that is particularly useful to me.
Comments (6)
Apple has given us the I phone and the creative technology industry has given us unlimited apps to choose from. Imaging what could happen if this creative energy could be released for the development of new citizen engagement tools. Possibilities are endless...
I would hope that through transparent review of the possibilities and further public awareness that Government support to all humanity for access to affordable wireless communications and associated imbedded applications becomes accelerated into an immediate reality. Ideas of energy conservation and modernizing how we communicate information on a global scale become apparent with a brief analysis of current abilities using satellites and wireless communications devices. We should be extraordinarily supporting the transition to this communication style as it is the most cost effective way to upgrade humanity into the 21st century.
I think these are important points. The desire to build momentum and drive rapid change can lead people to conclude that technological criteria should be proscribed. This will only have the effect of setting artificial boundaries that limit the potential for new and innovative technologies. Enabling all possible solutions is the best method to bring real change.
I just want to ensure that all citizens have affordable access to such powerful concepts of learning.
A standard citizen portal connection that is highly affordable, wireless and miniturized and uses extremely low amounts of power is the way forward. To combine efforts of cyber security, affordability and wireless connectivity into a single device is a significant strategy that will be a cornerstone that when combined with other great ideas mentioned on this site and elsewhere will have no equal for years to come.
Without a doubt, technology moves fast. Government intrusions, interference, and/or mandates will only gum things up, restraining investment, competition, innovation and choice.
Technology-neutral procurement also enables greater numbers of small business owners and entreprenuers to become active in the government procurement space, meaning more competition and efficient use of taxpayer dollars in delivering government services. Mandates and one-size-fits-all approaches generally discriminate against the small business sector.