Emerging Tech

Industry sees promise in open government contests

Offering prize money could spark innovative ideas, but administration must be careful that judging is perceived as fair, private sector officials say.

Modernization

Delays in satellite programs push Navy to look elsewhere

Service considers leasing capacity on Australian and experimental birds.

Digital Government

Glitches prompt IRS financial review system to fall short of expectations

Poor functionality cause employees to avoid using the $19 million examination network to determine tax-exempt status.

Digital Government

Panel recommends overhaul of GSA's Multiple Award Schedules

Agencies buying services and solutions require updated policies, analysts say.

Digital Government

With social media, should DOD go to the people, or should the people go to DOD?

Paul A. Strassman's recent column—arguing that DOD's social media policy doesn't do enough to address security—sparked a lively debate among readers, many of whom question whether DOD, or government in general, is suited to hosting social media sites.

Digital Government

When Blumenthal Saw the IT Light

Dr. David Blumenthal, chief evangelist in the crusade to move American healthcare into the electronic age, is a recovering Luddite.

Digital Government

The Travails of Joint Radios

The Joint Tactical Radio System, in development since 1999 when I only had a few gray hairs, failed another series of tests last year at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Ideas

Want Workers? Get Tech

Wired Workplace blogger Brittany Ballenstedt posted on Wednesday findings from a study conducted by Accenture on Millennials' use of social networking tools at work. (Millennials are the youngest workers among us, those younger than 28.)

Ideas

Census Sticking Point

The Census Bureau this week started its daunting task--counting the nation's 300-plus million people--by mailing out advance letters to 120 million households. These letters politely remind citizens that the 2010 census documents will be arriving March 15 to 17 and to please fill out and mail back the quick-and-easy 10-question form.

Cybersecurity

Screaming 'Come Rob Me'

With the explosion of social media usage, self infatuation is now considered an accepted form of sharing. But posting photos alongside the intimate details of your daily activities may be making you vulnerable to unrealized cyberattacks. In a metaphorical sense, the seemingly harmless photos you've been sharing might as well be nude shots.

Digital Government

Managers beware: The millennial workforce under the microscope

A new paper suggests that government managers should consider much more drastic changes in the way they deal with the incoming workforce.

Digital Government

Millennials Ignore IT Use Policies

Forty-five percent of Millennials worldwide say they use social networking Web sites at work, regardless of whether their organization or company prohibits their use, according to a new <a href="http://www.accenture.com/Global/Research_and_Insights/By_Role/HighPerformance_IT/CIOResearch/Millennials.htm">survey</a> by Accenture.

People

Panel says DOD needs 'significant improvement' in managing the acquisition process

DOD's antiquated acquisition system and policies present major problems in fulfilling mission needs and contribute to government cost overruns.

Modernization

Information handcuffs: Counterterrorism IT needs support from the top, Congress told

Intelligence agencies face policy and privacy questions as they look to harness IT to fix problems identified after the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt.

Modernization

NASA launches mission simulator Web site

NASA launches an online simulator that lets anybody pilot the space shuttle and view how space communications works.

Digital Government

What role should government play in health IT?

An HHS federal advisory workgroup describes four strategic roles for the federal government to play in health IT.

Acquisition

VA seeks vendor to automate Agent Orange claims processing

The Veterans Affairs Department wants to hire a contractor by the end of April that can automate processing Agent Orange claims by September.

Acquisition

Procurement panel slams price reduction clause for services

The Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel offers 20 recommendations on how to improve GSA Schedules program.

Digital Government

For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for thee, IE6

GCN Lab director John Breeden checks out the online funeral held for Internet Explorer 6, but notes that it still has more market share than IE7.

Digital Government

NASA rethinks $1.5B enterprise data center contract

NASA recently announced that it would be reworking its plans for acquiring an enterprise data center to better meet the agency's needs.