Bluetooth government?

There are other technologies that could further build an effective two way communication between a government and its citizens. Bluetooth marketing can be a great alternative to the internet. It used to be the case that due to security fears, or a desire to save battery life, many users keep their Bluetooth devices in OFF mode, or ON but not set to be ‘discoverable’. Because of this, often regions where Bluetooth proximity marketing is in operation it is accompanied by advising via traditional media – such as posters, television screens or field marketing teams – suggesting people make their Bluetooth handsets ‘discoverable’ in order to receive free content. A ‘discoverable’ Bluetooth device within range of the server is automatically sent a message asking if the user would like to receive the free content. Perhaps this could be useful for governments as well.

I found a company on the internet that has software for just that. Its called SITmobile.  According to the website, “SITmobile gov is a tool for any level of government to maintain a communications channel with its citizens. This could be invaluable for distributing information, but also for receiving ideas,complaints or comments.”

They even have a feature that allows a citizen to send an SMS to the city council and share an idea or complaint, as well as a City council to citizen feature that allows a citizen to give their mobile number and indicate any subjects of interests and th city council keeps the citizen precisely informed. oh finally no more lines!

SITBluetooth provides a service for tourists to download information and maps about key places of interest via bluetooth. This seems quite convenient to me.   for more information you can check the website @ http://www.sitmobile.com/ingles/standardsolutions.php

Cyrberwarfare

I read an article today that got me thinking about the effects of the world wide web on the government. What is the role of hackers? Surely they will not just stick to banks and corporations when potentially taking down governments could be so much more fun.

according to the BBC, “Cyber attacks are not new- websites were being hacked into and brought down during the kosovo war 10 years ago.”  However it is much more prevalent now.  Even NATO is under attack. “Nato officials have told the BBC their computers are under constant attack from organizations and individuals bent on trying to hack into their secrets.

A cyber attack can potentially bring down a complete national service, banking, media, etc … and worst of all, even if it is certain where the attacks are originating, it would be hard to prove it. 

All it takes is opening an attachment for a sophisticated “worm” or “Trojan” to take over the computer, scan its files, send them, delete them or alter them without being detected. Quite scary indeed!!!! Is cyber warfare the future of war??

E-democracy: an urban legend?

 

 My last few posts have only really discussed E-government in a positive light; However there are many people out there that would argue that putting government online isn’t democracy at all. There are some that would even consider it a hoax, our very own 21st century loch-ness monster.

The world bank and amnesty international define Democracy as a collection of civil, human and market rights. Yet through out the world we have laws that take them away. The Patriot act in the United States allows for surveillance of all internet usage in the name of terrorism, could that possibly mean that one day a terrorist will mean someone that disagrees with the government they thought they could complain to? China made deals with Yahoo to limit its citizens access to information…couldnt western societies potentially do something similar? We can communicate much more efficiently over the web, however we can also be much more easily monitored. Everything is faster and more direct, but at what cost?  Will we come to a day where we have tax subsidized e-mail accounts? With all of these “what if’s” will we ever find democracy on the web? or is it something we hope to achieve…like finding the holy grail perhaps?

ICT’s and politics..why it works

 

 

  The new millennium came in the midst of fear. Not fear that the world would end per se, but that the world as we knew it  would end. Experts in technology couldn’t sleep. Questions arose about the worlds computers working past the number 1999 stirred in their heads…and this is when the world finally got it..we are completely and utterly dependent on technology. The world hasn’t been the same since..dun dun dun

While this intro may be a tiny bit dramatic, its undeniably true.  According to an article by Francesco Amerotti on ICT policies in e-government and e-democracy, Innovation through ICTs–social and economic advancement has become more and more bound to technology creation, dissemination, and utilization and is at the core of the renewed focus on the role of the state and state institutions in this process. 

ICT’s are redefining the way the state functions, its responsibility, and powers in addition to sparking interest in political agenda and public debate. The 2008 US presidential election showed just how powerful these can be. More people voted than had in the previous elections. More people debated  the issues. More people cared! There were countless groups for Obama and MCain on social networks like facebook and myspace, and both candidates had blogs and podcasts. As a result people felt like their opinions counted, like their feedback mattered. People are starting to feel like the government works for them. 

Even the World Bank  and the OECD have adapted their strategies in the direction of a state-friendly and holistic approach as well as a unique opportunity for achieving higher standards of living and greater economic and social empowerment for millions of citizens around the world. E-health, E-democracy and E-education are all essential in such a technocratic world and this is particularly why ICT’s work in government.