Over the past few months, 803 people completed our random phone survey and 2,128 people took the survey online.  Thank you for caring about Seattle’s technological future and taking the time to tell us how we can communicate more effectively throughout the city.

Your survey responses will help guide the City of Seattle’s work on digital equity, broadband services, public outreach and engagement, cable franchising, the Seattle Channel, and the City’s web and social media.  We also hope your responses will be useful to community groups and educators, and others planning to deliver information and applications to our diverse residents.

If you’d like to receive a note when the results come out, email us at communitytechnology@seattle.gov.

THANK YOU.

The Technology Indicators Survey covers:
•    Internet,
•    Cable TV customer satisfaction,
•    How you want to give your opinion or get info from the city
•    Social media preferences,
•    Cell phones usage,
•    Concerns about cost or security
•    High-speed Internet services

Help us also connect with non-internet users. We encourage Internet users to help others complete the survey. For those without a computer at home, the City offers public access to computers at libraries, Neighborhood Service Centers and some community centers. Visit www.seattle.gov/tech/freeaccess.htm or call 206-684-0600 for more information.

Answers from this survey will help shape the City’s strategic and engagement efforts regarding cable re-franchising, the City’s web site, Seattle Channel and public outreach.

The online survey results will add to a random telephone phone survey currently underway and a series of focus groups in multiple languages. The City expects to publish comprehensive survey results this summer. Past results have been used in decisions about the Technology Matching Fund grant program, and in outreach for neighborhood planning, utility assistance and health education programs.

For more information on the Information Technology Indicators Project, visit www.seattle.gov/tech/indicators/ or contact communitytechnology@seattle.gov.  Also see the press release.

Encuesta de Televisor, Computadora e Internet – Para los residentes de Seattle

See more about the technology advisory board at seattle.gov/cttab.  Please email any questions or apply by sending your resume and letter of interest to CommunityTechnology@seattle.gov.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.  You must be a City of Seattle resident or work in Seattle.

Additional information:
Position requirements (consider before applying)

• Applicants must:
  • either reside or work in Seattle
  • not be employed by the City of Seattle
  • not serve on more than one City of Seattle board or commission
  • attend monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday, 6-8 pm, generally held downtown at Seattle Municipal Tower)
  • participate in at least one CTTAB committee (times set according to committee members’ schedules)

• Service to the board expected to begin February 2012
• This is a two-year appointment, potentially renewable for one additional term
• Time commitment (5-10 hours per month, depending upon activity)

Originally posted on Dec 6, 2012.

More About Get Online Week and public computing centers:
Get Online Week is being offered by participating centers in partnership with the City of Seattle Department of Information Technology and the Seattle Public Library.

The only way some people have access to computers, the Internet or technology training is to use the services of nearby public computing centers and libraries. Even for those with computers or Internet devices, these centers also offer valuable training in how to find and use essential services and learning materials online. Many of the centers offer instruction in other languages or specialize in serving specific residents, such as youth, seniors, or the disabled community.

Get Online Week started in 2010 as a one-day event at 10 participating centers in Seattle’s central and south neighborhoods. Get Online Weeks are also held in Europe. This Community Technology education program is part of the City’s effort to ensure digital inclusion and foster broadband adoption.

If you’re a new voter and you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late. New voters can register in person until Oct 29. Here’s how:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/registration.aspx

Registered voters should receive ballots no later than October 23. Track your ballot packet and get questions answered at http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx.

The Seattle Channel has covered the election during the last few weeks, and a roundup of the video election coverage can be found below:

• Initiative 502 – The marijuana debate (CityClub, in partnership with the UW Debate)  – http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5551206
• Referendum 74 – Same sex marriage (Seattle Speaks) – http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3381202 
• Governor’s race  (City Inside/Out) – http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3061227 
• Proposition 1 – Alaskan Way Seawall funding (Council discussion) – http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=216122 
• Election debate (City Inside/Out) – http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=306122
• Find more videos about this year’s election issues at http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/watchVideos.asp?program=Elections

 Don’t forget to vote on or before Nov. 6!

Entries were reviewed by a panel of expert judges, including Francis Benjamin, of Washington State University; Adam Gentz, of BizXchange; Mónica Guzmán, of Geekwire; Susannah Malarkey, Executive Director of the Technology Alliance; Manny Medina, CEO of GroupTalent; Jason Preston, co-founder of Dent the Future; and Bill Schrier, Deputy Director of the Center for Digital Government.

Read what judge Monica Guzman had to say in her Seattle Times blog at  http://blogs.seattletimes.com/monica-guzman/2012/10/02/living-voters-guide-whichbus-win-top-honors-in-state-app-contest/#.UGtfv6ts8hM.twitter

The apps were assessed against a range of criteria including innovation, user experience and design, potential impact on Washington State, King County, and/or Seattle residents, visitors and businesses. They also had to be available for public use for the next year.

More than 100 people joined dignataries at the awards event, which  included Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (via video).

 “The intersection of technology and society inspire our storytelling at GeekWire, and this event combines these themes along with one that is close to my heart: doing well by doing good.  I can’t wait to see what the app developer community has created for this challenge,” said Rebecca Lovell of GeekWire, who is emceeing the awards ceremony.

Registration is free at http://bit.ly/UQkLvy. The event will be held Monday, October 1, in the Bertha Knight Landes Room, Seattle City Hall, 600 4^th Avenue, in Seattle, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Music and light refreshments will be provided.

See entire announcement here: http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=13122

The Challenge is open to people who live, work or study in Washington State and Washington small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

 ”The Evergreen Apps Challenge encourages people to find interesting and innovative ways to use government data to improve their community”, said Ted Schmitt, chair of Seattle’s Citizens Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board. “This is a great opportunity for application developers, designers, entrepreneurs and anyone with ideas for improving their community to leverage the data our government creates everyday to create fun, useful and accessible tools for everyone.”

 The State, County, and City have all made datasets available for public use, though any data about Washington State, King County or Seattle can be used for the challenge. Review detailed rules at http://www.evergreenapps.org/ to see if your application or idea is eligible.

 Prizes will be awarded on October 1 at a celebration at Seattle Center.

Here’s how to get your question to Mayor McGinn:

1. Call 206-684-8821 during the live show from 7-8 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 22.
2. Email: askthemayor@seattle.gov
3. Submit a question online: seattlechannel.org/AskTheMayor
4. Twitter: @SeattleChannel
5. Facebook: facebook.com/SeattleChannel

Participants will board the 3 p.m. ferry in Seattle and have the use of free wi-fi onboard, provided by Boingo Wireless, Inc. Once in Bremerton they will spend four-five hours at the Kitsap Conference Center where dinner will be provided along with presentations about building applications with Socrata Open Data and ESRI Maps. Wi-fi will also be available on the return ferry ride.

 The registration fee is $35 for professionals and $15 for students and includes the ferry ride and dinner. Please register at http://evergreenapps.eventbrite.com/.

The Evergreen Apps Challenge is sponsored by Seattle, King County and Washington State and offers more than $75,000 in prize money for development of apps that use government data and stimulate economic development throughout the state. State support comes from the Washington State Broadband Office, which is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is charged with coordination, programming, and outreach on broadband issues including opportunities for funding.  The challenge is open to small businesses and individuals who live, work or study in Washington State. Learn more about the challenge at www.evergreenapps.org.

The Evergreen Apps Challenge closes September 6, 2012, and awards will be presented on October 1 in Seattle.