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Talk given at the National Association of Government Web Professionals about civic technology on the front lines.
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Christopher Whitaker@CivicWhitaker
Civic Technology on the Front Lines
@CivicWhitakerCivic Technologist
Project Manager Consultant @SmartChicago
Midwest Brigade Coordinator @CodeforAmerica
Former Field Office Supervisor at the Illinois Department of Employment Security
Masters of Public Administration @DePaulU
BA Political Science @SamHoustonState
11B @USArmy
How I got Involved
The “Legacy” System
Runs on DOS Mainframe system – One screen fails, they ALL FAIL
Not run in real timePaper reports From 1975 – Before Apple Computer, The
Space Shuttle, before Saddam took power in Iraq, and before AOL
Put it this way:
Worst recession since the Depression and our system was surprised to learn who Luke’s father was…
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Meanwhile…
You give me a paper…
I stamp it, copy it, give you the copy Scan it into system as TIF file Tell system what it is and whose it is System puts it in file Adjudicator pulls it up Takes questionnaire and enters it into text box You employer’s HR company generates a letter through it’s system, prints
it I get then your employer’s paper via FAX stamp it Scan it into system as TIF file Tell system what it is and whose it is System puts it in file Adjudicator pulls it up Takes questionnaire and enters it into text box Adjudicator decides your unemployment claim System generates letter in PDF, mails it to you and your employer Employer sends their appeal via FAX generated by their computer system. Fax machine breaks due to overuse
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
But it is true...and it not uncommon
CGI Federal’s epic failure to launch Healthcare.gov
California fired & *sued* SAP after MyCalPays failure
Massachusetts fired & *sued* Deloitte after unemployment system disaster
A system glitch by an Accenture-built platform caused food stamp payment delays for thousands of North Carolina residents
Meanwhile…you have these people…
And these people…
And don’t forget this team…
What’s the difference?
An ECOSYSTEM built for Civic Innovation
City of Chicago seeing DATA AS FUEL An active and ENGAGED civic
technology communityReal SIGNIFICANT investments by
local foundations
A community that fights for the users
The CUTgroup
Collaboration
The Civic Works Project
A Knight Foundation / Chicago Community Trust Grant that will: Build five civic apps focused on non-profit issues Build five civic apps focused on government issues Write 200 Content Pieces Run the Illinois OpenTech Challenge
We’ve just received an extension and will be running this for a second year.
Get involved!
To get involved with Code for America Brigade
Codeforamerica.org/brigade
To get involved with the Code for America Peer Network
Codeforamerica.org/about/peernetwork
To get more information about Smart Chicago
Smartchicagocollaborative.org
