What's "civic tech" got to do with a cheap Buddha statue that managed to stop people from dumping trash on a city street? Civic tech, after all, is technology used for civic benefits that usually entails data and software. I thought of civic … [Continue reading] about The soul of civic tech No permission’s required for artful ways to ease life in a city, with data or without
Are city staffs ready for civic tech? What to do before generous apps fall into the public lap
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. … [Continue reading] about Are city staffs ready for civic tech? What to do before generous apps fall into the public lap
Tableau, still not boring
Here's one reason I've always liked Tableau, and still do even as it enters a mother ship's cold embrace. An email pitch from Tableau this week: Music is a global unifier—connecting us from afar and strengthening relationships closer … [Continue reading] about Tableau, still not boring
Homeless? There’s an app for that Civic tech's struggle to overcome initial 15 minutes of fame
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, … [Continue reading] about Homeless? There’s an app for that Civic tech's struggle to overcome initial 15 minutes of fame
Slack Attention, advocates of "data driven"
Here's a thought from Seth Godin, who thinks and writes about systems, for advocates of "data driven" systems, such as smart cities. Systems with slack are more resilient. … One thunderstorm can cripple the air traffic system for six major … [Continue reading] about Slack Attention, advocates of "data driven"