Yearly Archives: 2012

Digesting Data: Howto.gov Informs on the Power of Data Visualization

This past Tuesday, October 9th, Howto.gov hosted a webinar about the use of info-graphics in the Federal government. During the webinar, they covered the basic definition of info-graphics, why their important, as well as some case studies on how they are being used. I realize we have been having this conversation for a while onRead… Read more »

Government Forms Just Got an Upgrade

Pretty cool update from the Presidential Innovation Fellows working on Project MyGov ————————– Government Forms Just Got an Upgrade If you’ve ever had the pleasure of filling out a TPS report or any other form (in triplicate, by hand, with a pen), have we got news for you. We’ve rolled out – and look forwardRead… Read more »

On Experience Design

My good friend Chad Udell (@visualrinse) reminded me in the comments that I spoke earlier this summer, right after mLearnCon, about some thoughts on Experience Design. With the DevLearn Junto coming up and a bunch of workshops related to designing experiences using the Experience API, this might give anyone casually interested some background on whereRead… Read more »

Saving lives through collaboration and crowdsourcing — Labor Panel Part 3

Black Lung: it’s a common condition miners contract after years of working miles below the earth’s surface. The government set up a program to help, it’s called the Black Lung Grantee Program. But there was a problem — the miners weren’t interested in participating. So the Grantee Program got to work on a solution. TheyRead… Read more »

C’mon…Practice Some Self Control!

I know you’ve been there, (I have too). You get to work, check your email and see that a friend/cousin/mailman uploaded some photos, tweeted, or did some other thing that really isn’t that important. But what do you do? You click and then an hour later you are left scratching your head about what broughtRead… Read more »

OhMyGov(ies) And The Hatch Act – To Live Tweet, Or Not To Live Tweet

The Hatch Act of 1939, officially An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is the official guidance for civil servants of the executive branch on engaging in partisan political activity. More than seventy years after it was enacted, the blurred lines between professional and private lives, compounded by the development of social media, complicates theRead… Read more »

General Dynamics Releases NSA-Certified COTS computers, can NSA deliver on cost savings and more

By RyanKamauff The NSA needs to find cheaper ways to activate intelligence, and sharing seems to be one of them General Dynamics has introduced the TACLANE MultiBook laptop – which is certified by the NSA to secure network communications on Secret and below levels. This laptop can operate simultaneously on classified and unclassified networks, andRead… Read more »

Fighting Blight (w/ data)

Broken windows, caved-in roofs, and abandoned buildings have a negative effect on the way residents think and feel about their city. These — and other symptoms of blight — are more than just eyesores. Blight becomes everyone’s problem when it leads to increased crime and lower property values throughout neighborhoods. In New Orleans, blight hasRead… Read more »

Are Independent Audits Occurring In Your Local Government?

Former Buffalo Councilmember Brian Davis was recently sentenced to one year in prison for stealing taxpayer dollars that he controlled through discretionary funding that is provided to all Councilmembers. The Buffalo City Charter states one of the responsibilities of the City Comptroller as: “The comptroller shall engage an independent consultant to conduct an audit ofRead… Read more »