Trends
Massachusetts is showing the way by going to the end users of the products and services governments buy. It’s good for suppliers as well, and produces better results for everyone.
As unmanned aerial technology advances, millions of dollars in new business activity and innovation need regulatory clarity from federal, state and, in particular, local authorities.
Nine days before the WHO announced it, a tech startup found a news article about the not-yet-named COVID-19. If pertinent social media data was public, they might have spotted the disease even earlier.
Lilac Solutions might have found a cost-effective way to extract California’s lithium, one of the main ingredients in making an electric battery. “The analogy has been made to the Gold Rush, and I do think that’s apt.”
State lawmakers are tackling new digital threats to elections and public trust by banning voting bots and criminalizing deepfakes; meanwhile, in New Jersey, a legislator wants to bring an end to paper records.
President Trump said in an address last week that the Internal Revenue Service would extend the federal tax filing deadline. But filing before April 15 could mean increased security and decreased fees.
The most undercounted group in the 2010 Census was children under the age of 5. If North Carolina had accurately counted its children in 2010, some think the state would have already gained a 14th seat in Congress.
Texas Democrats say they now have technology to predict voter partisanship, which will allow them to tailor their campaigning approaches. Texas Republicans aren’t so impressed: “Everything they’re describing is Politics 101.”
The real estate industry is quickly changing as property technology (proptech) becomes more pervasive. This panel discussion, moderated by Aaron Renn, covers the changes that have happened and those that are yet to come.
New York’s Capital District Transportation Committee says major preparation is needed for future transportation updates and maintenance. The report predicts the region will need to spend an extra $300 million annually.
What government does is noble and vital, but it can't deliver the value it should if we don't do a better job of making the work, work. The future of management is about more than technology and budgets.
Artificial intelligence has tremendous potential for government, but putting it to work requires making management choices up front. The last thing we need is for it to evolve unpredictably.
A Florida bill would allow the purchase of new equipment that would decrease the time needed to tally votes, but it only approves use of ClearAudit technology. Many are worried about compromises to election security.
A startup transportation company, Go360, will soon launch its fleet of electric vehicles in California’s capital city. The subscription-based service will be limited at first, but would expand if successful.
The average ride-hailing trip creates about 70 percent more carbon emissions than a traditional car ride. A California state senator hopes to curb those emissions with industry regulations.
A survey found that most Americans worry about safety, legality and hacking when it comes to self-driving cars. But 72 percent said they would feel safer if they could take control of the car in case of an emergency.
A multi-partner water recycling project is helping Monterey, Calif., stabilize and replenish its dwindling groundwater supply. The project could serve as a model for shrinking aquifers in other regions of the country.
California is the true hub of electric vehicles (EV) but Southern California wants its credit. Electric buses, vehicle batteries and EV work are all coming out of southern counties, and the industry continues to grow.
New research from Pew Charitable Trusts points to the need for involvement from all levels of government to help close a digital divide that has left 21 million Americans without broadband access.
As robots become more prevalent, state lawmakers hope to regulate the technology to give companies clear guidelines and keep the streets safe. “We just want to make sure our policies are up to date.”
Millennials now outnumber baby boomers in the public-sector workforce. Retention and recruitment can be tough across the board but perhaps nowhere more challenging than in IT. Leaders must work with HR and create incentives and pathways to keep the next generation engaged and on board.
New Mexico’s electric grid needs an update and House Bill 233 would provide tools and plans to assist in that modernization. The bill was approved by the Legislature and just needs a signature from the governor.
A sales tax that helps to pay for King County Metro bus service is set to expire this year and could be renewed in August. Decisions about who and how to pay for the bus service are caught up in a larger controversy about transportation funding in a recent ballot measure and subsequent court challenge.
Facebook’s Pittsburgh office is working to develop 3-D avatars, which would maintain expressions and body language of users to meet face-to-face, virtually, around the world, as the next wave of digital communication. “There’s a can-do attitude among everyone here.”
The city’s plan involves new cameras, analytics equipment and $1.5 million in overtime pay as the city is short about 600 officers. “We need those technology advancements and we need them right now.”
Cities, especially in California, have to weigh the pros and cons of ride-hailing apps, like Uber and Lyft. Some are thinking that it’s time to change the rules, but they aren’t sure what new regulations would look like.
A group has proposed an amendment to the state constitution, requesting that lawmakers have a limit of 16 years in the state legislature. The proposal still has several steps before getting on a November ballot.
Four years ago, Oakland established an advisory commission to look at city policies through a privacy lens. Today, it remains the only body with such a wide scope and may become a model as the use of tech grows.
Never before have policymakers faced such daunting questions on regulating and legislating the growing impact of digital technology. We pick the most important issues they will grapple with this year.
Firefighters face an array of obstacles as they relay information in inhospitable situations. But a high-tech vest made from carbon atoms called graphene may be the answer to a serious voice and data transmission problem.
Washington state, home to Amazon and Microsoft, wants to further regulate user data collection and facial recognition. Lawmakers think their legislation could become an example for other states.
