Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2012 about Government on Tuesday 13th March

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Day: Mar 13
Topic: Government

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Government As a Catalyst: Prizes 4 Tech Innovation

by James Pol, Mari Kuraishi, Jenn Gustetic, Michael O'Neill and Chris Gerty

Want to make some money? Federal agencies have recently been given the authority by Congress to sponsor competitions for individuals, groups, and companies to develop new ideas and technology innovations for a chance to win potentially lucrative prizes. These competitions can range from new mobile outreach technologies to web-based data analytics tools to even vehicle-to-vehicle communications; the government is looking for breakthrough technologies from the minds of the most innovative and forward thinking Americans, many of whom are at SXSW. This session will highlight some of the coolest prizes for technology development that the government has been involved in to date, including the DOT’s Connected Vehicle Challenge, the VA’s Open Source and blue button projects, and NASA’s centennial challenges. Additionally you will learn about some prizes government did NOT play a role in to explore what role the government should be playing in these activities moving forward.
At 11:00am to 12:00pm, Tuesday 13th March

In Salon B, AT&T Conference Center

Coverage audio clip slide deck
How the White House is Mobilizing Social Media

by Kori Schulman

From his first day in office, President Obama put a priority on an open and engaging government. From Hangouts to hashtags, the White House is utilizing social media to interact with Americans everyday on the issues that they care about the most. As the first Administration in history to have a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and elsewhere online, the White House’s social media strategy is focused on creating opportunities for meaningful engagement. This session will highlight the #40dollars campaign surrounding the payroll tax cut extension, White House Hangouts and more. Kori Schulman, Deputy Director of Online Outreach at the White House, will discuss how the Administration is breaking new ground to engage with citizens in the digital age and what’s next.
At 11:00am to 12:00pm, Tuesday 13th March

In Salon E, AT&T Conference Center
Cool Like You, Gov Private Sector Envy

by Emily Wright-Moore, Kevin Curry, Julio Gonzalez, Aurelio Tinio and Matthew Esquibel

Will we someday look to the government technologist as a Web superstar? An innovation idol? A technology trailblazer?

In this session we will explore how government technologists deal with the demands of meeting customer needs in a world where private industry sets the pace. Can government ever be as cool as their corporate counterparts? Are the challenges of doing more with less, attracting emerging talent and maneuvering through excessive politics and bureaucracy too much to overcome?

New and groundbreaking partnerships between government and private sector, non-profits and community groups may provide the answers to these questions. Fellowship programs like Code for America, community crowd sourcing like Austin’s OpenAustin and business partnerships may just give the government geek a shot at being one of the cool kids.
At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Tuesday 13th March

In Salon B, AT&T Conference Center

Coverage audio clip
Senate Committees Push Boundaries on Social Media

by Conor Kenny and Steven Polunsky

The bulk of social media and Web 2.0 use in Congress and state legislatures has until now largely been composed of personal tweets and posts by legislators and staff, pushing communications out without engaging in true conversations with constituents. Innovation in this area has lagged the private sector.One Texas Senate committee is changing that. Charged by Chairman John Carona to “push the envelope so hard it’s no longer stationery,” the Business and Commerce Committee is moving out with social media. They began by examining the legislative process and identifying each point where lobbyists and advocates have special access to information or legislators, then looked for technologies that would level the playing field, open the process to the public, or help generate consensus. As a testbed, the committee is currently tackling a tough issue –payday lending – and they’ll tell you what they’re doing, what’s worked and where they think Gov2.0 is going.
At 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday 13th March

In Salon B, AT&T Conference Center

Coverage audio clip