Modernization
NASA to Host Virtual Hackathon on COVID-19 Challenges
The space agency and its partners will host a two-day hackathon on May 30-31.
Digital Government
Federal Register Tech Issue Caused by Oversized Document
The site directed users to a temporary rundown of regulatory notices for April 30 while two federal offices worked to resolve the issue.
Emerging Tech
Above-Average Hurricane Season Could Further Challenge Government's Pandemic Response
Technology may be key in ensuring the government responds to disasters on multiple fronts, a retired U.S. Army General said.
Emerging Tech
Privacy Options Don't Boost Trust in Voice Assistants
For some users, adjusting privacy and content settings could have an unfavorable effect, the new research shows.
Ideas
COVID-19 Is a 'Global Experiment' for the Environment
Multiple measurement types and sophisticated computer models are required to figure out how and why greenhouse gases are changing due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Emerging Tech
Republican Lawmakers Propose Bill to Support Government COVID-19 Research Effort
The COVID Research Act includes several authorizations, including $50 million to the Energy Department.
Emerging Tech
Survey: 4 in 5 Americans Worried Pandemic Will Encourage Government Surveillance
Many Americans oppose intrusive technologies even if they’re intended to assist in the government’s response to coronavirus.
Digital Government
House Approves Creation of a Select Panel to Oversee Pandemic-Related Spending and Response
Critics have said the committee will be duplicative, but one transparency expert said that "overlapping oversight jurisdictions can be a good thing if managed correctly."
Ideas
How South Korea Flattened the Coronavirus Curve with Technology
Two measures were critical in the country’s ability to flatten the curve: extensive testing for the disease and a national system for promptly and effectively tracking people infected with COVID-19.
Emerging Tech
Supercomputing System Fighting COVID-19 Gets Upgrade
AMD made the contribution to nearly double the system’s performance capabilities.
Digital Government
The Government’s As-a-Service Future
As federal agencies embrace cloud services, they are considering other pay-as-you-go options.
Cybersecurity
Senators Call on IRS to Beef Up Fraud Prevention Efforts
Scammers are not taking days off during the pandemic, senators warn.
Artificial Intelligence
The Pentagon Will Use AI to Predict Panic Buying, COVID-19 Hotspots
The prototype can predict trends in supply and demand and infection down to the zip code.
Emerging Tech
COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Uses Bluetooth 'Garbage'
To work best, the app requires many people to use it, whether they have had COVID-19 or not.
Artificial Intelligence
DARPA Wants Tech That Can Trick Computer Vision
Neural networks can adapt and learn to identify and classify objects but they can also be stumped by cleverly placed pixels.
Modernization
Survey: Most Federal Officials Expect Cloud Service Providers to Secure Their Data
Report validates federal officials’ concerns about inaccurate assumptions in the new environment of “shared responsibility.”
Cybersecurity
Agencies That Bought Cloud Services in Response to COVID-19 Need to Review Security Duties, Officials Say
Officials should ensure the security roles of the agency and vendor are clearly spelled out.
Modernization
VA and DOD Now Default to Sharing Patient Data with Private-Sector Providers
The joint electronic health records management office launched an information exchange program to make it easier to share patient data with thousands of “community partners.”
Modernization
New App Uses QR Codes to Trace Coronavirus Exposure
A free, open-source smartphone app permits contact tracing for potential coronavirus infections while preserving privacy.
Emerging Tech