The California Department of Water Resources, the California State Parks, a Fresno youth organization, and the California Department of Veterans Affairs received recognition from state technology officials and private industry Wednesday during an event designed to share innovation and invention between government and business.
The Government Mobility 2012 event, held at the Sacramento Convention Center, offered attendees education and training opportunities, panel discussions and a solution center in which public and private industry met to share current and upcoming applications and vote on the best government solutions presented that day.
As panel discussions touched on social media, education and the effort of state departments such as the California Department of Motor Vehicles to catch up with and innovate the use of Web 2.0 technology in government, event guests, identified as mostly public sector, dropped voting chips at booths in the solutions center as presenters shared their projects with the ever-present crowd moving through the room. The event ended with an award ceremony.
The California Department of Water Resources received the "Most Innovative" award for the Dam Safety CARS, an application that allows staff to easily and efficiently collect and report data using GPS and camera functions. The department accepted their award Wednesday from Technology Agency Secretary Ramos and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. Buchanan and Ramos then delivered the California State Parks mobile application, offering park visitors mobile access to information and the ability to report off road accidents, an award for "Most Valuable Program" at the conference.
A Fresno organization, the kNow Youth Media project, works with students who are interested in community and received the "Coolest Solution" award. The students, who make up a large portion of the city’s bus ridership, worked with the city technology department and the transportation department to create an application delivering accurate arrival times and rider feedback. Students joined kNOw Youth Media representatives on stage to receive the award for their application.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs received the "Best In Show" award for receiving the most votes overall. The department’s application, launched on Veterans’ Day 2011, provides veterans with location-specific information on education, jobs and housing resources. The application also links veterans with the department for direct service.
State Parks CIO Alan Friedman accepts award presented by HP's Bill Cody Photo: Bill Foster, Techwire.net
Assemby Member Joan Buchanan Photo: Bill Foster, Techwire.net
