Deanna Glick

 

Posts by Deanna Glick

Shared IT Services Could Bring Agencies Closer To Mission

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Though efforts to consolidate government IT services have failed in the past, experts indicated at a summit on the topic Monday that those lessons will contribute to the ultimate success of the more recent and updated approach known as shared services.

Nearly 200 industry and government executives gathered to learn about the business case for shared IT services and governing the process toward the effort at the Government Information Technology Executive Council (GITEC) Summit in Baltimore, Maryland. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 22, 2012 at 7:00 AM

End Of Verizon’s Unlimited Use Plans Could Mean Leverage For Feds

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Verizon’s plans to eliminate unlimited use plans should accelerate the federal government’s push to leverage Uncle Sam’s buying power to get lower prices and enhanced services from the carriers and the device manufacturers, a federal IT marketplace expert said Friday.

According to a CNET report, Verizon Wireless officials on Thursday clarified plans to discontinue unlimited data plans, saying customers could keep their existing unlimited data plans if they keep their existing device or buy a new device at the full retail cost of the smartphone. In other words, the report states, if a customer renews a contract and purchases a subsidized phone, they would lose the option to keep the unlimited plan. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 18, 2012 at 12:30 PM

Boehner: Spending Cuts Must Top Debt Ceiling Increase

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House Speaker John Boehner warned Tuesday that he won’t permit another increase in the debt ceiling without a larger amount of spending cuts and reforms approved in tandem.

“When the time comes, I will again insist on my simple principle of cuts and reforms greater than the debt limit increase. This is the only avenue I see … to force the elected leadership of this country to solve our structural fiscal imbalance,” Boehner said at a fiscal summit sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, according to prepared remarks. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 16, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Smokey Bear Is Back

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The Forest Service is among several federal agencies making the most of mobile technology. As part of its “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” campaign, the agency has integrated PSA videos, social media and a Smokey Bear app to teach youngsters (and their older counterparts) to pay attention when burning outdoors, whether that involves campfires or the errant cigarette. Among the features of the app are a step-by-step guide to building and extinguishing campfires as well as an interactive map of current wildfires across the country.

A related application is fire prediction software for mobile devices. This software, according to the Forest Service, can help manage forest fires and wild fires by putting data into a device that can help show where the fire may go next. While cautioning that firefighters shouldn’t rely solely on the devices, the Forest Service says the software can be a useful tool in the field. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 14, 2012 at 1:29 PM

‘Myth-Busting 2’ Seeks To Further Improve Acquisition Process

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The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) released a second “Myth-Busting” memo Monday addressing misconceptions about acquisition processes.

In the memo, Acting Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy Lesley A. Field states that federal agencies have taken significant additional steps to improve communications between federal agencies and the vendor community since the first “Myth-Busting” memo was released last year. OFPP has issued the second memorandum to continue that process. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 7, 2012 at 4:00 PM

IT Forum: ‘Shared First’ Gets Legs, Agencies Report Progress

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Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel speaks with InformationWeek Government Editor John Foley at Thursday’s event.

Having launched a formal strategy on the concept yesterday, federal CIO Steven VanRoekel offered examples Thursday morning of how shared IT services will free up valuable resources across government agencies. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 3, 2012 at 3:25 PM

Town Hall: Mobile Workforce Grows While Security Issues Remain

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As hundreds of public and private industry executives gathered for the Spring 2012 Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, it was clear technology and the efficiency has pushed mobile workforce efforts farther ahead. But security issues remain the chief concern across federal agencies.

Panelists addressed various issues surrounding mobility and telework at various sessions held in the Washington Convention Center. While many told mobile workforce success stories, they clearly remain perplexed regarding security. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 2, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Commission Recommends Technology Efforts To Enhance Education

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The TechAmerica Foundation announced key recommendations on Friday for research initiatives and policies to enhance education across the nation through technology.

The recommendations came from a report compiled by the Recommendations for Education and Advancement of Learning (REAL) Agenda Commission, made up of leaders in science and technology in government and industry. Their intent is to advance the goals of Digital Promise, a national center founded to spur breakthrough technologies that aims to transform the way teachers teach and students learn. Keep reading →

 /  Published April 27, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Security Sensors That Can See Through Walls

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Imagine a real-life version of Harry Potter’s magical Marauder’s Map, which showed the location of everyone prowling throughout Hogwarts castle. That’s what startup Xandem is building: a new kind of all-seeing motion-detection system that’s poised to shake up the security market.

There are many different ways to track motion, but most commercial systems rely on optical beams that require uninterrupted sight lines. Heat-sensing infrared systems don’t have that weakness, but they’re prone to false alarms and can be blocked by anything that insulates body heat. Keep reading →

 /  Published April 20, 2012 at 9:30 AM

FedSMC: Is Governing ‘Beyond The Desktop’ All Good?

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A conversation about how technology allows leaders to “govern beyond the desktop” generated optimism and laughter as well as fear and skepticism Tuesday at the annual Federal Senior Management Conference in Cambridge, Maryland.

“People are dating online. Meeting people all over the world,” said Anthony Macri, who serves on the General Services Administration’s mobility transformation team. “You have to shift to a virtual mentality and the technology supports that. It’s a mindset of virtual connectivity.” Keep reading →

 /  Published April 17, 2012 at 2:00 PM
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