29 September Computers in Government

Current Event Anne Brannon

Class Uses 69 different devices identified Areas EntertainmentCommerce TransportationCommunication SecurityTraffic control KitchenDoors, elevators, … MedicalSchool

Top Uses Laptop/desktop Street light VCR, DVD, DVR Video games Cell phone Microwave Clock, Watch One Card Television, radio Calculator Stereo, CD Car Laundry ATM Keyless entry Air conditioning

How Can You Tell if it’s a Computer? Is it digital? Does it require power? Electric battery Does it adapt? Programmable Sensors

Computers in Government

First Use of Computers in Government 1890 Census 1880 census took 7 years Predicted 10 years for 1890 Use of punched cards Jacquard loom for controlling weaving patterns (Joseph-Marie Jacquard, 1820) Used for storing instructions (Charles Babbage) Used for storing data (Herman Hollerith, 1889) Single hole for numbers Multiple holes for letters

Results 1890 Census completed in 6 weeks Punched cards were the primary input device to computers for 80 years Hollerith went on to found Tabulating Machine Company (1896), which became IBM in 1924

How do We Interact with Government? Same as everything else In person Phone Mail Web

What is e-government? Online access to government services Information Transactions Opportunity to increase citizen participation How government works Question: Does e-government disenfranchise people?

Is there a digital divide? Facts: Nearly 70% of Americans have access to the Internet 70% of those people access it daily Less than 10% access is less than once a week Questions: Is this good news or bad?

Demographic Differences 87% College degree vs. 48% high school degree 86% professionals vs. 58% blue collar 78% 18 – 34 years old vs. 43% over 65 70% Caucasian vs. 59% black No gender difference

What would you like?

Information sought Recreation (50%) Road closings (25%) Health information (25%) Voting records (25%) Self reported Believable? Could we do better?

Transactions Wanted Address Change ONCE Respond to jury summons Renew driver’s license Copies of life event certificates (birth, death, marriage, divorce) Confirm program eligibility and apply Student financial aid, unemployment, Medicare, Medicaid, … Passport or visa; marriage license Employment opportunities and application File taxes What’s not on this list? VOTING!

Let’s explore Federal: State: City: