Obama Issues Executive Order For Government Wide Adoption of 'Innovative Mobile Technology'

In what looks to be a potentially dramatic move, President Barack Obama has released anew technology strategy mandating the adoption and deployment of what he describes as “Innovative technologies” for all federal government agencies. The strategy is part of an Executive Order (#13571) issued On April 27, 2011 which aims to streamline government service delivery and improve customer service.

The order requires executive departments and agencies to, among other things, identify ways to use innovative technologies to streamline their delivery of services to lower costs, decrease service delivery times, and improve the customer experience. The goal is to implement a “comprehensive Government-wide strategy to build a 21st century digital Government that delivers better digital services to the American people.”

In addition the statement provides motivation for government agencies to begin adopting various mobile technologies. Stating that “at a time when Americans increasingly pay bills and buy tickets on mobile devices, Government services often are not optimized for smartphones or tablets, assuming the services are even available online.”

The strategy outlines how to ensure that agencies make the best use of emerging technologies in serving the public specifically directing each agency to take the following actions:

• (1) implement the requirements of the Strategy within 12 months of the date of this memorandum and comply with the timeframes for specific actions specified therein; and
• (2) within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, create a page on its website, located at www.[agency].gov/digitalstrategy, to publicly report progress in meeting the requirements of the Strategy in a machine-readable format.

This is a bold plan to move the country toward a truly mobile future with an even bolder mission, “Ultimately, this Strategy will ensure that agencies use emerging  technologies to serve the public as effectively as possible. As  a Government, and as a trusted provider of services, we must  never forget who our customers are — the American people.”

In a time where the PC is quickly becoming an outdated relic of the past. I congratulate the administration for taking the steps required to ensure government agencies are moving toward using the most cutting edge technology available to help solve some of the real technology issues facing the country.