Tech

Open Data Day – a project I’d like to be doing

As some readers and International Open Data Hackathon participants know, I’m really keen on developers reusing each others code. All too often, in hackathons, we like to build something from scratch (which can be fun) but I’ve always liked the idea of hackathons either spurring genuine projects that others can reuse, or using a hackathonRead… Read more »

Is Your Company As Disruptive As MakerBot? Unlikely.

I don’t think many people are looking at MarkerBot right now and thinking “Oh my God, that is an insanely disruptive company.” But they should be. MakerBot is the Brooklyn-based startup that makes open source 3D printers. 3D printers are “printers” that you can print physical, three-dimensional objects with. Objects like plastic busts of people’sRead… Read more »

‘Rock Your Tech Report’ Aims to Give Contracting Officers a Leg to Stand on

Here’s an all-too-common occurrence: The government issues a Request for Proposals (RFP); companies respond with their proposals; the contracting officer (CO) requests a technical analysis of the proposals to help guide the decision… and the technical report that comes back, in plain terms, stinks. Sterling Whitehead, a contracting enthusiast who writes his contracting blog AllRead… Read more »

Looking through the Global Economic Crystal Ball

Deloitte Research recently released it’s fourth quarter edition of the Global Economic Outlook. The report offers an overall view of trends and events shaping the world market. Some key questions answered in this edition of the report are: -Is the US headed for a recession? -Will the euro survive? -How much will reconstruction spending boostRead… Read more »

Just put a zombie in it

Like many communications professionals, social media specialists, online community managers, and every other title/position that’s trying to get the word out about your organization’s services and awesomeness, there are some days where my mind draws a blank for my next blog post. I’ve learned not to fear it as much as I used to whenRead… Read more »

Bittersweet End: GovTwit directory turns three, but forced to shut down

The short story: GovTwit.com is dead and I’m looking for ideas on how to get it back up and running. The slightly longer version: I recently sat on a panel hosted by Market Connections, which was releasing their third annual report around the use of social media in government (you can download the overview here),Read… Read more »

The power shift effect of open government

The second CityCamp Colorado started off with Tom Downey and Stephanie O’Malley from the City of Denver setting the stage for the day’s theme: enhancing access to government. Held at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility on October 28, 2011, more than 70 people gathered to participate, learn, and advance the open government movement.Read… Read more »

Controlled Unclassified Information(CUI): The CUI Registry is out!

On November 4, 2011, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) released the first-ever registry for Controlled Unclassified Information(CUI) for records that are not classified as top secret or secret, but require some protection. The release of this registry meets one of the first targets of President Obama’s Executive Order on Controlled Unclassified Information. AlthoughRead… Read more »