Rock Creek Roundup (April 15 Edition)

Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Apr 15, 2011 0 Comments

The National Institutes of Health and other government agencies reach out to citizens via mobile apps, Kentucky’s Department of Homeland Security releases an iPhone app aimed at thwarting terrorist activity, federal IT managers get a helping hand when it comes to making the right IT acquisition choices, and one blogger outlines the “mega trends” that show the impact social media has had on government, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup.

—Trying to decide if it’s safe to take a particular vitamin supplement with your current prescriptions? The National Institutes of Health has an app for that. As more citizens are interested in accessing information on the go, more government agencies are turning to mobile applications as a way to better serve the public. In this article at Government Computer News, author Alice Lipowicz takes a look at how NIH’s MyDietarySupplements app was developed, and also explores a recent app location-based launched by the National Archives, the Transportation Security Administration’s MyTSA app, and a rebate-focused app developed by the Internal Revenue Service, among others.

—In an effort to detect and thwart terror activities, state government officials in Kentucky have released a mobile application that gives citizens an easy, anonymous way to report incidents of suspicious activity. Kentucky’s Office of Homeland Security recently made available the Eyes and Ears of Kentucky app for the iPhone that allows citizens to give detailed information on any type of behavior or situation that seems suspicious. The iPhone app will let citizens report suspicious activity while they’re on the go, and joins the state’s existing phone line and website form for alerting officials to unusual activity.

—Federal IT managers looking for some real-world help in implementing technology solutions. Released earlier this week, the CIO.gov’s best practices website featured case studies from the US Department of Agriculture, the State Department, and more. The CIO Council anticipates making additional case studies available in the future.

—Responding to demands for transparency, engaging with citizens, and putting a human face on government are just 3 of the 5 “mega trends” that one blogger sees as evidence that social media is having a significant impact on transforming government. Citing examples in the US government and in governments around the world, Mark Schaefer makes a compelling case for a handful of “significant and fascinating trends.” Check out the post and see if you agree with the conclusions Schaefer is drawing.

Meagen Ryan

Director of Strategy

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