The wisdom of crowds

Governments can't think of everything. That's why Vivek Kundra, the chief technology officer of Washington, D.C., went to "outsiders," asking for ideas on how to enhance D.C. services through cool computer applications. He announced the "Apps for Democracy" contest in October. The general public was invited to take data -- yes, dry digital data, from D.C. files -- and turn them into useful and absorbing information for residents, visitors and government employees.

Read More