Tech Talk Blog Seattle Information Technology

Tech Talk

Seattle Information Technology

Thanks to 2,931 Seattle residents!

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A big THANK YOU to more than 2,900 residents who completed our residential technology survey!

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.

Volunteers sought for City of Seattle Technology Advisory Board

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The City of Seattle is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our tech advisory board. Applications are being taken through January 18th, 2013.   The Board and committees help guide city strategies and investments in our digital future. The ten member Citizens’ Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB – seattle.gov/cttab) advises the City on broadband deployment and adoption, mobile and web based services for Seattle.gov, social media, open data, online public engagement, the Seattle Channel, cable tv franchise agreements, Technology Matching Fund grants and efforts to close the digital divide.  There are currently two positions open on the Board, as well as opportunities to participate in project committees.  We strongly value broad experience and diverse participation.

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.

City & Community host Get Online Week Dec 3-8

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Get Online logo (stoplight with "Get Online" for go light)Learn more about what families can do on the Internet and where to go for training.  This week, December 3rd-8th, twenty community and cultural centers in Seattle are hosting open houses, individual assistance, and workshops at computer learning centers. See the Get Online Week list of sites and activities or contact Vicky Yuki at 206-233-7877 or vicky.yuki@seattle.gov.  Drop by to learn more about using the Internet, online job resources, consumer information, homework help and a world of activities online.

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.

Evergreen Apps Challenge to award $75,000 in prizes at Oct 1 event

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Winners of the Evergreen Apps Challenge will be named on October 1, 2012, at Seattle City Hall. Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine will kick off  the event with $75,000 in prizes  awarded for the best new civic apps, including two people’s choice awards. The people’s choice awards will be decided by those in attendance and everyone who registers gets a vote.

 “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 4th 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

 

 

Geeks on a Ferry – August 14

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Application developers, entrepreneurs, designers and students who are interested  the Evergreen Apps Challenge and government data are invited to take a ferry ride from Seattle to Bremerton and work on their entries.  Geeks on a Ferry will take place August 14 from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. aboard a Washington State Ferry and at the Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton. 

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.

 

Evergreen Apps Challenge announces statewide events

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Seattle, King County and Washington State are teaming up to offer 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 a program of the state Department of Commerce. The challenge officially opens today and is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Washington State.

Three events are scheduled in August to build momentum for the challenge and connect developers with like-minded competitors:

  •  Seattle’s Office of Economic Development will host City Business Casual on August 9, 2012, focused on technology start-up businesses. It will be held at the Alexis Hotel’s Library Bistro in Seattle, 5-7 p.m. The event is free and no reservations are necessary.
  • Geeks on a Ferry invites developers to ride the Washington State Ferry from Seattle to Bremerton on August 14, 2012, 3-10 p.m. Participants will have free Boingo wi-fi on the ferry and then spend about five hours at the Kitsap Conference Center working on apps. The registration fee is $35 for professionals and $15 for students and includes the ferry ride for those who need it and dinner. Please register at www.evergreenapps.org/events.
  • Spokane is the site of the third event on August 22, 2012, at Riverpoint Academy, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Developers will hear from ESRI and Socrata. Tickets include a light dinner. Registration is available at www.evergreenapps.org/events.

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

Comments to FCC support digital literacy and broadband

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This week the City of Seattle and the Washington State Council on Digital Inclusion submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on proposed changes in rules that would expand telephone support programs to include broadband deployment and adoption.

Comments support the FCC’s desire to use savings from the Lifeline Program/Universal Services Fund to support programs and services to improve digital literacy and broadband adoption among Americans who face barriers to benefitting from these technologies. 

Here are the key positions taken in the comments:

  • A wide range of disadvantaged residents need these programs to help them access jobs, education, health information, and essential services. These include immigrants and refugees, disabled, communities of color, and seniors. Let local communities propose projects that best serve local needs and leverage community assets.
  • Community based non-profit organizations and local governments should be eligible organizations in addition to schools and libraries.
  • The FCC should build on organizations with training expertise and what has been begun by the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  
  • The FCC should develop other funding mechanisms, as well as encouraging industry incentives and partnerships that sustain digital literacy training programs and do not reduce funding for existing voice and broadband programs.
  • The FCC should support sharing of best practices and training in delivery of digital literacy.
  • We support the American Libraries Association position that money should also not be taken away from E-rate for this effort.

The City of Seattle has been a leader in digital inclusion efforts with programs including the Technology Matching Fund program, Seniors Training Seniors in Technology, RecTech/Parks Department computer learning centers, and Access for All cable broadband program for non-profit tech learning centers. See www.Seattle.gov/tech

See more about the Washington State Council on Digital Inclusion on the Communities Connect Network learning and resource hub at www.communitiesconnect.org. This includes a directory of technology learning centers across the state.

 

Link to the FCC filing:

http://bit.ly/JIO0vg or http://seattle.gov/tech/docs/WA_DigInclusionCouncil_City_of_Seattle_Comments.pdf

 

It Takes a Community to Bridge the Digital Divide Webinar Tues, 3/6 1 pm EST

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David Keyes will be presenting in a national webinar on digital inclusion: Tuesday, March 6th ♦ 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific. This will cover the national framework, local government roles, and building partnerships. Register and more: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webinars#mar6

In FCC Chairman Genachowski’s announcement of the sweeping Connect2Compete initiative to increase broadband connectivity and Internet access across the nation, he listed an impressive array of partners who are joining in the effort. Although he singled out libraries as “vital centers for digital literacy,” any effective actions must involve the whole community of players. Join us to hear about the key role that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is playing in the broadband adoption challenge and the actions already underway for building digital communities. And also hear insights on the collaborative roles and efforts of city/county governments and public and private organizations. Learn how to get started with inclusion efforts from organizations who have taken the steps to implement practical programs which meet local needs and share your ideas about collaborative efforts which lead digital inclusion.

Presented by: Mary Chute, deputy director for libraries, Institute of Museum and Library Services; Ron Carlee, chief operating officer, International City/County Management Association; and David Keyes, community technology program manager, City of Seattle.

Two openings on tech advisory board

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Applications are being taken through Feb. 1st for two volunteer positions on City of Seattle Technology Advisory Board.

The ten member Citizens’ Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB – seattle.gov/cttab) helps guide city strategies and investments in our digital future, including broadband deployment and adoption, Seattle Channel and Seattle.gov services, cable tv franchise agreements, Technology Matching Fund grants and efforts to close the digital divide. 

For these two-year volunteer positions, the City is looking for people with the time to serve and interest or expertise in one or more of these areas:

•     the future of television programming and digital journalism

•     strategic partnerships and broadband development

Applications will be taken through Feb 1, 2012.  See more details about the position requirements and the Board at http://www.seattle.gov/cttab/ .  Please email your resume and letter of interest to CommunityTechnology@seattle.gov.