Yearly Archives: 2011

The Opportunity for Civic Startups [Video]

Jennifer Pahlka — founder of one of Civic Commons’ founding partners, Code for America — gave a talk at the Future of Web Apps conference in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, entitled “The Next Disruption: The Opportunity for Civic Startups.” The keynote, embedded below, outlined how there is a huge opportunity in the governmentRead… Read more »

Rethinking the Food Label

In 2003, then Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona reported that obesity had reached crisis levels. Carmona explained that obesity is ”the fastest-growing cause of disease and death in America. And it’s completely preventable.” In response to this crisis, Michelle Obama has been publicly advocating increased physical activity and improved diet. In 2010, the first ladyRead… Read more »

3 Ways to Improve Customer Service

The Customer Service series is supported by RightNow Technologies. To learn more on how to use cloud technology to improve customer service, visit the RightNow resource center today. Check out the GovLoop/RightNow Customer Service Hub to get smart on how to be awesome at customer service ————————— The great part about the topic of customerRead… Read more »

Investigation questions, News Corp. news, OCE a target, and more political law links

REP. RIVERA IN THE NEWS. Roll Call. “The FBI and IRS are investigating Rep. David Rivera over payments that a casino company may have made to a company owned by the Florida Republican’s mother, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.” LOBBYING AND THE BOTTOM LINE. Roll Call. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION? Here’s aRead… Read more »

Data, Design and Diabetes

On June 9, 2011, sanofi-aventis U.S. announced the “sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data, Design, Diabetes” at the National Institute of Health’s Health Data Initiative Forum. The challenge integrates open data with a human-centered view into diabetes, and will award $220,000 in total prize money. Guest blogger Michele Polz provides details on how this challenge cameRead… Read more »

Weekly Round-up – July 22, 2011

Gadi Ben-Yehuda Recommended Daily Downloads? The FDA has proposed health-related mobile application guidelines. The Food and Drug Administration reports that there are more than 350,000 health-related apps for Apple devices, and tens of thousands for other platforms. Because these apps are tantamount to medical delivery devices, the FDA argues, they should be regulated like otherRead… Read more »

Online ridesharing comes to Seattle

Two companies are using technology to match Seattle (WA) drivers and riders. The state funded a trial of the go520 ride-sharing application to test the applicability of ride-sharing as a strategy to reduce congestion on SR 520. The first phase of the Avego-managed project ended in June. Registered drivers were notified when someone requested aRead… Read more »

Heat knocks out NYC subway clocks

The countdown clocks in a dozen New York City subway stations succumbed to a late July heat wave this week. Officials had to shut down the clocks to protect them from soaring temperatures, which can exceed 120 degrees in the rooms where the clocks are located. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued an apology and plansRead… Read more »