Tech

The Last NASA Mainframe

I started my career as a programmer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center doing assembly language programming on mainframes. Part of me is sad knowing that this is no longer a skill worthy of inclusion on my resume, but I’m excited that NASA has finally moved on. My previous position was working as the softwareRead… Read more »

GroupWorks Pattern Language card deck available now

A BIG breakthrough for all group process folks… For almost 5 years I’ve been involved with envisioning and creating a “pattern language” for group process. (A pattern language is a set of design factors to guide people in creating things that are wholesome and life-giving – vibrant communities, effective curricula, engaging software… and great conversations.)Read… Read more »

The When of Sales

The Sales Model still shows the best way for the salesman to spend her time. Let’s try a model showing how prospects come to a decision for considered purchases, as opposed to impulse purchases…and what Sales should do. I am seeing three movements to the performance. First Movement Due to internet and social media, prospectsRead… Read more »

How to get your city to pass an open government policy

Raleigh, NC—City Council adopts open source policy On Tuesday, February 7, the Raleigh City Council passed an Open Source Government Resolution, unanimously, promoting the use of open source software and open data. The resolution includes language that puts open source software on the same playing field as proprietary software in the procurement process. It alsoRead… Read more »

Mobile app design and organization

Mobile apps are hot. Everyone’s got one, from grocery stores to travel companies to whisky distillers. Last week Rob Giggey began an interesting discussion about whether or not agencies/departments within a single government entity should have their own mobile apps.Should we separate a public library database search from emergency services and general info into theirRead… Read more »

Suits And Spooks Rendezvous For The Greater Good

Mark Drapeau (Washington, DC) — Last week, an eclectic group of tech-savvy “suits” and “spooks” gathered in a private conference center in Rosslyn, VA, in a towering office building overlooking Georgetown across the Potomac River. The occasion? The second-annual Suits and Spooks anti-conference, curated and hosted by cyber warfare consultant and author Jeffrey Carr. NominallyRead… Read more »

Digital diplomacy in Paris – workshop and panel

Last week the embassy of Israel in Paris, France, hosted an international workshop on the digital diplomacy. It was first such experience for us in the Israeli embassy, but what I learnt from our guests during the workshop was that it was also the case for many of them. While diplomats discuss this topic withRead… Read more »

Does Your Local Government Have “An Open Government Team”?

The City of Reno Nevada (population 220,000) has created an Open Government Team, which on their web site is described below as: Open Government Team We are currently forming an internal Open Government Team led by our Web Services Manager. Team members will come from all departments and all levels, with the intention of supportingRead… Read more »