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Big Smart, Small Smart, smartest

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No sooner had I posted the story in 2017 about Steve Pepple’s real-time visualization of a San Francisco parade’s data than a reader lodged an objection. “Building displays that show where the parties are,” wrote that reader, “could also show a gunman what sites to shoot up.”

True, Pepple’s LCD display, hanging in a neighborhood art project’s entryway for any passerby to see, posed that familiar risk. But let’s not all run away screaming in terror just yet. Pepple’s project — a bit player in the “smart cities” super-genre — deserves a long look at what it and others on the same scale may offer.… Read the rest “Big Smart, Small Smart, smartest”

Are city staffs ready for civic tech?

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Teams of generous volunteers — first rate engineers and product managers with day jobs at tech giants like Google and Twitter — build impressive softgware to improve city life. They’ll offer it to city staff, residents, and visitors. Their products work, and they’re free. What could go wrong?

Two things, says Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui, whose work takes him deep into such civic tech for cities. He’s the department chair and professor of business analytics and information systems at University of San Francisco. He and his team help cities make use of their data, such as across the bay in Oakland.… Read the rest “Are city staffs ready for civic tech?”

Homeless? There’s an app for that

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If any app gets just 15 minutes of fame out of the box, isn’t marketing critical? It seems obvious to me that those who offer an app would rank marketing up there with programming — especially when the app’s produced by a low-budget, volunteer-run civic-tech group.

But among some civic tech groups, it’s programming first and last. That’s what one recently retired CTO and former engineering instructor at San Francisco State University has found.

Edy Ortiz Aragon has been shopping for an interesting volunteer role, and he’ll be a prize for any group that snags him. (I have obscured identities to protect the well intentioned.)… Read the rest “Homeless? There’s an app for that”