Yearly Archives: 2011

Weighing in on WayIn

Co-founder and former CEO of Sun Microsystems Scott McNealy is in business again. This time however, instead of creating computer systems, he has ventured into the social media world. His latest venture, manifested currently at Wayin.com and launched mainly on Twitter, combines user created content and distributes it to other users. Those users then getRead… Read more »

Mr. Popularity and Your Enterprise 2.0 Community

Let’s do an experiment. Take five minutes and do a quick search of your organization’s blogs, microblogs, wikis, and forums that are available behind your firewall – and then let me know what the most popular topics are. Do they involve ”social media,” “Web 2.0,” “new media,” “mobile,” “enterprise 2.0,” or “collaboration?” Now, take aRead… Read more »

The Democracy Cube

In his 2006 article titled “Varieties of Participation in Complex Governance” (Public Administration Review, Vol. 66: 66-75), Professor Archon Fung of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government introduced a broad typology called The Democracy Cube, in which the first axis displays the authority and power of the participants in the process, the second axis shows whoRead… Read more »

Assessing Public Participation in an Open Government Era: A Review of Federal Agency Plans

AmericaSpeaks‘ newly-released report, Assessing Public Participation in an Open Government Era: A Review of Federal Agency Plans (2011), describes and analyzes the participation activities described in Federal Agencies’ Open Government Plans. It identifies best practices across Agencies’ public participation initiatives and recommends improvements that would increase the public’s role in shaping federal policy. The reportRead… Read more »

Google launches specifications for real-time info

Google announced GTFS-realtime, a feed specification that allows public transportation agencies to provide real-time updates for their fleets to application developers. The feed spec is based on the widely used General Transit Feed Specification and follows the launch of live transit updates for six agencies in June, which incorporated real-time information into Google Maps transitRead… Read more »

MBTA launches customer service app

From broken escalators to missing bus stop signs, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority customers now have an easy way to document inconveniences large and small. Tell the T, a new iPhone/iPad application, lets customers snap a picture of the offending item and send the information straight to customer support. “I’m looking for customers to let usRead… Read more »

Calling All Federal Cybersecurity Practitioners: Contribute ideas and actions to enhance the community

On 28 September 2011, FedCyber.com will facilitate a one-day Government-Industry Cyber Security Summit to be held at the Newseum in Washington DC. This event is free for government cybersecurity practitioners. The FedCyber.com Government-Industry Summit will bring together thought leaders who know the cyber mission in a venue designed to enhance our collective understanding of theRead… Read more »

TransLink to provide real-time info, seeks testers

TransLink (BC) is upgrading its mobile website and is looking for riders to help test its latest feature — real-time next-bus information. In a blog post, the agency asked potential testers to tell TransLink in 200 words or fewer why they want to test the app. Five selected testers will receive access to the betaRead… Read more »

Solar trees spring up in Santa Clara parking lots

A new kind of tree is growing in Santa Clara County (CA) parking lots. The 12-foot tall silver saplings are topped with photovoltaic cells that produce electricity for county facilities and reduce emissions. The so-called solar trees also create shady parking spaces, which is a popular side benefit. “Most people think it’s covered parking, andRead… Read more »