Digital Government

When iPods are killers

iPods, smart phones and other personal devices are raising new questions about safety on the battlefield, on the beat and in other hazardous areas, writes blogger Brian Robinson.

Digital Government

Cloud computing: 20 percent savings in five years?

The U.K. has high hopes for cloud computing (and open-source software and voice over IP, for that matter).

Digital Government

'The Guardian' of government data

On the heels of the United Kingdom's launch of its own version of Data.gov comes a new site developed by The Guardian newspaper that provides access to online government data sites from around the world.

Digital Government

DARPA satellite program seeks ‘billions and billions’ of inputs

The agency envisions enabling people around the world to take part in an experimental satellite program.

Digital Government

U.S. first responder communications still a mess

If a major earthquake were to strike in the U.S., we would be in a real fix, says the chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

Digital Government

Green tech: NASA brings space tech down to earth

NASA is getting into the green tech business, it seems, by using software designed for such things as the International Space Station and Mars Rover missions to control indoor energy systems.

Digital Government

The FBI, a Spanish lawmaker and bin Laden

Blogger Brian Robinson can't help but wonder why the FBI incorporated a picture of a Spanish minister of parliament into a wanted poster of the world's most infamous international terrorist. The Spanish PM is wondering too.

Digital Government

DOE assembles team to tackle cybersecurity threats to power grid

The Energy Department assembles the National Energy Sector Cyber Organizationam to work on reducing cybersecurity risks faced by the U.S. power grid.

Digital Government

Social networking for democracy (and earthquake relief)

Sen. Richard Lugar says the Obama administration and U.S. diplomats should be "nimble, flexible and innovative" in the ways they use social media.

Digital Government

Army to call up small robots for combat duty

It appears that automated warfighting is being accelerated into the ranks.

Digital Government

Obama gets good marks on first cybersecurity report card

The government needs to take an energetic lead on protecting the IT infrastructure, says a local government security guru.

Modernization

Web mashups put transparency to the test

Web mashups are expected to become a valuable tool for sharing and analyzing government data, but mashup creators say government could do more to make their data more accessible.

Digital Government

Marines go GREENS for battlefield power

The Office of Naval Research has come up with a highly portable photovoltaic/battery system that Marine units can take into the field with them.

Digital Government

Kundra talks about a new day for government data

In an interview with ExecutiveBiz, the federal CIO talks about how a “whole new industry” could evolve around Data.gov.

Digital Government

Cybersecurity czar named; let the turf wars begin

Now that Howard Schmidt is officially named the White House cybersecurity coordinator, don’t expect that to be the end of the matter.

People

Weighing Web 2.0

Web 2.0 tools are not a slam-dunk as program management helpers, so consider the following pitfalls before taking the plunge.

People

Program management meets Web 2.0

Program managers must take the time to choose the right social-media tools to improve how they communicate and collaborate with their teams.

Digital Government

Federal agencies prepare to make the leap from XP to Windows 7

Agencies still using XP can make the jump to Windows 7, although the upgrade path could be tricky in spots. Microsoft and other vendors have set up programs to help with the transition.

Modernization

3 questions to consider before moving a data center to the cloud

Remaking data centers in the image of a cloud means delivering IT services to internal customers with operations that are efficient, flexible and fast.

Modernization

DISA’s view from the cloud

Henry Sienkiewicz explains why DISA set up an internal cloud-computing service and what it means for operations.