Digital Government

US Army Is Serious About Developing Invisibility Cloaks

Previous attempts at achieving invisibility have involved everything from the use of funky lenses to hidden projectors paired with cameras.

Emerging Tech

Smarter Driver: Will Self-Driving Cars Ever Be Legal?

The technology is still in the testing phase, but it has many governments worried.

Digital Government

Outside techies clean up at Hackathon

Before teams from academia and the private sector could build apps and searchable databases at GSA's Hackathon, they had to do some housecleaning.

Cybersecurity

Pentagon frets over China's cyber capabilities

The annual report to Congress comes not long after the Chinese defense ministry objected to what it said was the offensive nature of the Pentagon's cyber strategy.

Modernization

Help wanted with 7 million lines of COBOL

The Railroad Retirement Board is looking to update its legacy IT systems.

Cybersecurity

Why insider threats keep succeeding

Outdated security models rarely address insider threats, argues John Sellers, and perimeter defense and background checks are not going to keep attackers out.

Ideas

DATA Act at Year 1: In Need of a Growth Hormone

For the first time, the DATA Act has made it someone's job to define, and later enforce, common standards that will allow users to match and search across financial, budget and award reports.

People

Rep. Connolly wants you to tell him a story

The Virginia Democrat is soliciting success stories about federal employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.

Modernization

HealthCare.gov flaws, DARPA drones, OSTP prizes and the Datanauts' debut

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Cybersecurity

Senators question Thrift Savings Plan's security

The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee want to know more about TSP's cybersecurity.

Emerging Tech

Many Projects in Pentagon’s Emerging Tech Program Still Stuck in Development

Only about half of projects GAO examined had been transitioned to a government acquisition program, a military user, a prime contractor or eventually commercialized.

Cybersecurity

NSA surveillance and an HHS nomination

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Digital Government

White House Dispatches Digital Squad to Salvage Electronic Immigration System

The Obama administration has dispatched the U.S. Digital Service to study deep-seated problems and experiment with new development techniques for the new system.

Emerging Tech

Can Analytics Save US Soldiers from Suicide?

The Army is in the midst of a five-year effort that aims to identify factors that protect or put at risk a soldier’s mental health.

Emerging Tech

NASA Technology Located Four Trapped Earthquake Victims in Nepal, by Detecting Their Heartbeats

FINDER is a radar machine that sends a continuous microwave signal through the rubble, and can detect a human’s breathing or heartbeat (and distinguish it from the movement of an animal).

Modernization

Police Can Track Your Cellphone Without a Warrant -- For Now

Two federal appeals courts have upheld warrantless cellphone tracking. Will the Supreme Court step in?

Ideas

Agency CIOs Need to Be Aware of the Dangers of Consumer Tech

Agency CIOs must be cautious when procuring IT products developed for consumers.