| This week's sponsor is Meru Networks. |  | Download the White Paper "802.11ac in the Enterprise: Technologies and Strategies" to learn from industry expert Craig Mathias about the technologies behind 802.11ac, deployment misconceptions and review steps that every organization should take in getting ready for 802.11ac.
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Also Noted: IBM
Hispanic Milennials provide insight on mobile future; Mobile apps becoming default for government content; and much more...  Follow @fiercegovit on Twitter
More News From the FierceMobileGovernment Network:
1. FTC asks Congress to make data brokerage more transparent
2. Obama administration satisfied with cybersecurity regulations
3. ACLU pushes for legal protection in lieu of voluntary code for facial recognition technology
| This week's sponsor is Oracle. |  | Making the Most of Your CRM: How Best-in-Class Sales Teams Maximize Revenue and Customer Experience
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Today's Top News 1. NPSTC document outlines high standards for FirstNet
The forthcoming nationwide public safety broadband network needs to be reliable enough to gain the trust of first responders, says a new guidance document from the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council that outlines standards for the network. The council, whose guidance is intended to help the federal authority FirstNet build the network, consists of more than a dozen organizations working to improve public safety communications. They include the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and the National Emergency Number Association. "Public safety voice [land mobile radio] networks today are among the most reliable networks available in the United States. Today's commercial wireless networks are not built to the same standard," the document (pdf) says. FirstNet's broadband network has to be up to the standards of the public safety community, "not a commercial 'best effort' network," it adds. That includes being hardened to withstand earthquakes, floods and other disasters in areas where they pose a risk. The document says it may not be practical to build all the physical infrastructure to meet all the standards, especially in remote locations where implementing the network could be a challenge. But central sites within the network that other sites depend on need to be built to the highest standards, it says. While commercial wireless service allows for dead spots where there is low demand, public safety agencies aim to provide 100 percent coverage for first responders. Though the document doesn't weigh in on coverage decisions, it says FirstNet and individual states need to mutually agree on the extent to which the network will cover their jurisdictions. For more:
- download the guidance document, "Defining Public Safety Grade Systems and Facilities" (pdf) Related Articles:
FirstNet meeting reveals roadmap, staff structure
FirstNet GM resigns following another closed-door meeting Read more about: first responders, FirstNet
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| This week's sponsor is Acronis. |  | Enhancing Enterprise Mobility with BYOD
Understanding the ins and outs of everything BYOD is the first step of establishing an easily managed, secure enterprise with a mobile workforce. Download Now! |
2. Developers get hacking on public safety, disaster response apps
Mobile app developers competing for more than $25,000 in prize money weren't the only winners at the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Hackathon, held May 2-3 in Washington, D.C. First responders and members of the public could soon benefit from the applications generated at the event, which attracted more than 100 developers and public safety officials says a May 22 post on the FirstNet blog. The big winner at the competition was the "Beacon" mobile app, created by Theo Rushin and Gary Cooper, says the blog post. With just two taps on a smartphone or tablet an injured person or someone lost in an emergency situation could send a pre-configured distress notice to designated recipients, such as first responders. The signal relays information on the person's condition and location. Beacon's companion app, also created during the hackathon, continuously updated the location of the distressed person. FirstNet says Beacon will be released in app stores in late June and the companion app is expected in July. The nationwide public safety broadband network to be stood up by FirstNet will also provide first responders greater access to mobile apps, helping them respond to emergencies more effectively and efficiently, says the blog post. Another competition, with a similar focus, is in the final stretch of its three-month challenge period. On May 23 the National Defense University hosted a conference call to bring attention to a challenge underway to improve and refine existing disaster relief applications. The app challenge asks developers to build upon an open source disaster relief application that's already being fielded by citizens or first responders. The deadline for submissions is June 20, and the winner will receive a cash award of $3,000. Second place will receive $1,500 and third place will receive $500. The challenge post also emphasizes that winners will receive mentoring, feedback, and exposure to experts across the field of disaster response For more:
- go to FirstNet's blog post on the hackathon
- read more about or register for NDU's Disaster Apps Challenge Related Articles:
FirstNet issues RFI for mobile apps
FEMA app can crowdsource disaster photos
Berkowitz: Government should tap private sector apps in emergencies Read more about: disaster response, mobile apps
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3. Paper cutouts central to USA.gov redesign
For the team redesigning the USA.gov homepage for mobile devices, creating a prototype using pieces of paper and manila folders wasn't just a cheap way to test out the changes. The team created the simple, paper test version "so hopefully we could get some honest feedback and people didn't think that they were going to hurt our feelings," the way they might if they were criticizing a polished product, said Michelle Chronister, a General Services Administration employee on the USA.gov team. Chronister demonstrated the project in a YouTube video, having cut a hole in a manila folder to represent a smartphone screen, then placing a long strip of paper inside the folder to simulate scrolling through the page or navigating around. The team did the same test with a tablet-sized cutout as well. A recent blog post on GSA's DigitalGov website says the team asked people elsewhere in the agency and strangers at a coffee shop to test the paper version. "Paper prototyping requires zero tech skills and can be done very quickly," it notes. The team was also able gather feedback early in the process, before it would become a burden to make major changes. For more:
- read the DigitalGov blog post
- watch the video on YouTube Related Articles:
USA.gov, GobiernoUSA.gov unveil mobile-friendly sites
Structured content, metadata makes federal content reusable, say web managers Read more about: GSA, USA.gov
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4. World War II memorial gets WiFi-enabled exhibit
The World War II Memorial became the first memorial on the national mall with WiFi over Memorial Day weekend. For the memorial's 10-year anniversary the American Battle Monuments Commission rolled out wireless-reliant interactive kiosks that provide additional content, games and facts that complement the memorial's on-site features. Among the features of the interactive exhibit is a people finder, which allows visitors to search for information on servicemen and women through a database of approximately 16 million records. In a press release from the prime contractor behind the project, INADEV Chief Executive Ferhan Hamid says the interactive features will enhance the visitor experience, particularly for younger generations who consume much of their information through touch mobile and touch-screen devices. For now the exhibit includes four interactive kiosks, but a custom mobile app is also being developed for the memorial. For more:
- read the INADEV press release Related Article:
Arlington National Cemetery preps smartphone app Read more about: INADEV, WWII Memorial
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5. China cracks down on smartphone messaging apps
China's most popular mobile instant messaging applications, WeChat and QQ, are the target of a new crackdown on illegal content announced by the Chinese government. As part of a month-long "special operation" the government plans to monitor the platforms for terrorist communications, porn and other "unhealthy or illegal and harmful information," says a state-sponsored news agency. The Wall Street Journal reports that it's unclear just how such monitoring will be conducted. In the May 27 article from Xinhua, authorities asked for tipsters to call or email them about suspect mobile messaging activity. The Chinese government's recent interest in such apps comes on the heels of anti-terror sweeps that led to the arrest of people who used text messaging and WeChat to spread training and indoctrination, reports WSJ. Next week is the 25th anniversary of the Chinese military's faceoff with protesters in Tiananmen Square. In the past China has sought to censor activity on Twitter-like networks Sina and Weibo. For more:
- read the WSJ article (reg.req.) Related Articles:
Saudi Arabia threatens mobile app ban
Popularity of Chinese version of Twitter growing in China
U.S. imposes sanctions against Iranians for Internet censorship Read more about: undefined
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Also Noted | This week's sponsor is IBM. |   | Webinar: Enhance success and safety of public events with IBM Smarter Cities software
Large public events bring millions of dollars into your city's economy annually, and help build your reputation. Needless to say, safety of participants and spectators is paramount. Tackle the complex behind-the-scenes planning with IBM software solutions. Register Now! |
> Hispanic Milennials provide insight on mobile future. Article (DigitalGov Blog)
> Mobile apps becoming default for government content. Article (CIO)
> When State Department BlackBerrys go down, employees are forced to talk in person. Article (Nextgov)
> United States and China issue joint statement on civilian GPS. Statement (GPS.gov)
> GSA tackles the Internet of Things. Post (GSA Blog) And Finally... John Steinbeck's 1966 plea to create a NASA for the oceans. Article (PopSci) > Developing for the Internet of Things: Challenges and Opportunities - Wednesday, June 18th, 2pm ET / 11am PT Cisco estimates that 50 billion devices and objects will be connected to the Internet by 2020. Will there be a role for developers in this area? And if so, how can developers position themselves in the months ahead on this nascent but potentially explosive opportunity? Register Today!
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| > Whitepaper: Finding ROI in Document Collaboration Read this Accusoft whitepaper to learn about the factors that make document collaboration more difficult than it should be, and about how to create a collaboration strategy that makes sense for your organization. Download Now! > Video: Enhance success and safety of public events with IBM Smarter Cities software > Whitepaper: 802.11ac in the Enterprise: Technologies and Strategies Download the White Paper "802.11ac in the Enterprise: Technologies and Strategies" to learn from industry expert Craig Mathias about the technologies behind 802.11ac, deployment misconceptions and review steps that every organization should take in getting ready for 802.11ac.
Download today! | |
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