Rock Creek Roundup (July 30 Edition)

Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 30, 2010 0 Comments

TSA has an app for that, citizens call for more search and social media, Washington Technology shares technology predictions and NASA reminds us just how cold it can get, all in this week’s edition of the Rock Creek Roundup.

—You’re in the cab and on your way to the airport when you realize that your ID is not in your wallet; is there any chance you’ll still be able to get on your flight? Travelers can get answers to these questions and more by simply directing their iPhones to the new My TSA mobile app, available for free on both on iTunes and in the USA.gov apps gallery. My TSA mobile gives travelers answers to frequently asked questions about what is permitted and not permitted in carry-on luggage, guidelines on TSA rules and regulations regarding identification and liquids, and also allows you to check general delays and conditions at your airport.

—More than 70% of people surveyed sited “improving search functionality” as a way that government websites could be useful and engaging, according to the recently released 2010 Open Government Research Report. Respondents also noted a strong interest in engaging more with government information and resources, with 52% indicating interest in agency-branded forums and communities and 34% suggesting an increased agency presence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

—Mobile. Search. The Semantic Web. Virtualization. Cloud computing. According to Washington Technology author Carlos A. Soto, the five aforementioned technologies are the ones that are best positioned to have an impact on the market and the way that companies, government agencies and other organizations do business online. For example, Soto predicts that consolidation within mobile markets will increase in speed, and that improvements in bandwidth and data compression will boost the use of mobile video in our communications. If you work with your agency’s website or social media programs, it’s worth checking out Soto’s enlightening and thought-provoking article as an investment in preparing for your future.

—And just for a bit of fun on this warm Friday afternoon…When it’s 88 degrees outside and somewhat sticky, it may be hard for those of us in DC and the mid-Atlantic region to remember what it’s like to be cool….or even cold. Thankfully, NASA is providing us a visual reminder of why we shouldn’t wish for cooler weather just yet. Courtesy of the Goddard Earth Observing System Model Version 5 (GEOS-5), visitors can take a look at Snowpocalypse 2010, watching clouds form over the earth and remembering just how much snow was on the ground. Want to know why it happened? Columbia University just released a study that explains it all. Take a look at the video before your afternoon commute and it may just feel a bit cooler after all.

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Meagen Ryan

Director of Strategy

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