The federal government is open for business here in the national capital area, after four and a half days of closures due to historic snowfalls last week. We are slowly returning to normal, and it felt good to get out of the house and into the office on Friday (even though my drive took over two hours, more than twice the usual time).
Although we were not coming into the office, many of us continued to work remotely. With tools such as laptops, air cards and Blackberrys, we are really never out of touch. Telework has been a priority for GSA for the past few years, and we have a comprehensive program that includes telework policies and procedures, IT tools and support, and training. As a result, about a third of our employees connected to the network during the office closures, and many more stayed connected through other means such as mobile devices and webmail.
This trend toward mobility is only going to grow. A couple of weeks ago I visited the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held every January in Las Vegas, NV. This is the world’s largest trade show for consumer technologies, with over 2,500 exhibitors and more than 120,000 visitors. This show is a primary showcase for new technologies that will have an impact on our professional and work environment. Last year, the big trends included high-definition and 3-D displays, advances in solid state memory, and touch navigation (controlling a device with touch and gestures rather than a mouse or keyboard).
This year the big trend was mobility. This means mobile devices—e-book readers, smart phones, netbooks, and tablet PCs—as well as a wealth of applications to run on them. Many of these apps have potential to support the work of federal employees. For instance, it would be nice to have an ultra-lightweight netbook with you at all times, rather than remembering to pack your five-pound laptop on a telework day. And imagine taking your e-book reader to meetings, with the briefings and white papers distributed to them electronically rather than pages and pages of printouts. However, our security, privacy and other compliance requirements mean that we will be taking a careful approach to adoption.
More evidence of the growing emphasis on mobility came last week when Federal CIO Vivek Kundra announced plans to offer mobile applications from an iPhone-like ‘store’ that will give the public access to new capabilities developed by both the government and third parties. The mobile apps will be hosted on Apps.gov, perhaps beginning in six months or so. The White House, NASA, and the U.S. Postal Service have all created iPhone apps for the public already. No doubt in the near future we will see federally-compliant apps to help federal employees stay productive, whether on the move or snowed in at home.
15) Mobility and Meteorology
Dixon Dawn on 5/20/2010 4:28:56
The technological revolution that laptops, air cards and Blackberrys have brought about is incredible.Even I visited the CVS held in Las Vegas. What you said is right: The trend towards mobility is only going to grow; may be at light years pace. It’s good news that we all can stay productive despite the environmental or even mental inconveniences. Good post.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
16) Mobility and Meteorology
Nancy on 5/20/2010 0:06:39
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the world’s largest trade show for consumer technologies, with over 2,500 exhibitors and more than 120,000 visitors.
I too got a chance to visit the Consumer Electronics Show. I was in San Diego attending a conference and my good friend Ed dragged me to Vegas for this.
I had never seen anything like it in my life
I thoroughly enjoyed it, however failed to notice that the theme was ‘MOBILITY’ 
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
17) Mobility and Meteorology
Sean Conway Tiverton Gazebo fan on 5/16/2010 11:04:48
mobility is so important nowadays. laptops, ipads, iphones, mostly for connectivity anywhere you want. GOogle is playing into this away with an emphasis on local searches I think…
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
18) Mobility and Meteorology
Chrise on 5/14/2010 11:58:59
This is a fascinating post. Even though I live in Kenya and the internet is less than reliable here, I can’t do without my miniature laptop. This could well be evidence that Africa is (admittedly slowly) bridging the digital divide by adopting technologies that don’t require major infrastructural outlays.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
19) Mobility and Meteorology
Rick on 5/13/2010 15:24:24
Technology is an amazing thing. When we can actually predict the weather let accurately,let alone control it, that will be really amazing.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
20) Mobility and Control
Tom Shelton on 4/30/2010 13:48:17
This is a very interesting discussion. I work for a small business that is a long-standing Google partner and we will be teaming with a large contractor when the cloud initiative RFP comes out soon from GSA. Of course we will be pitching Google Apps. It does not matter where I am because with Apps I have full access to email, schedule, and documents. We have been using Apps for over a year now and I can’t imagine using anything else. I have a related question. Part and parcel related to Mobility is visibility and control of applications on the network. Who would be the best person to speak with regarding how we can provide visibility and control (if desired) into networks with traffic flowing to and from the internet? We can help align CIO level objectives for employee productivity, compliance, and ROI with strategic goals. Very nice blog. I will keep following it. Thanks…
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
21) Mobility and Meteorology
june marathon on 4/11/2010 19:49:57
That’s so cool that jobs are becoming more mobile. I want to be able to work from anywhere in the world!
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
22) Mobility and Meteorology
Jeff Risk on 4/8/2010 15:39:40
This also sounds to me like a trend towards mobility, which makes some sense as I believe such ideas were also carried (at least in limited form) into tank warfare.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
23) Untitled
custom sticker on 4/8/2010 13:42:49
thanks for providing the information.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
24) Mobility and Meteorology
J Cruz on 3/30/2010 14:55:10
Though we don’t have problems with snow here in the capital of Philippines, at least 2x a year we face similar ‘meteorological’ troubles caused by heavy monsoon rain. You might have heared about Ketsana (Ondoy) typhoon.
In situations like that, any means of remote work is an advantage. We often found simple reliable tools to be most effective.
J Cruz, Manila
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
25) re: Mobility and Meteorology
Casey Coleman on 3/23/2010 7:24:20
What did you have in mind, Paul?
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
26) Mobility and Meteorology
Paul Smith on 3/19/2010 6:14:39
Can you provide me more information regarding Mobility and Meteorology ???
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
27) Mobility and Meteorology
Paul Van Hoesen on 3/4/2010 22:57:18
We are using telework as a means of rural economic development. We have now established a “Digital Factory” in Perry County, TN and we are training rural people to work on online jobs.
There are literally thousands of online jobs out there and we are in direct competition with places like India, China, and Pakistan for some of these IT projects. Due to the rural cost of living, U.S. cultural and location advantages, we are winning these projects also!
This is one of the few new approaches to rural job creation and its working. Our goal is to plant one of these in every rural county in Tennessee and create 1800 commercial telecommuting jobs over the next two years.
Thanks for your blog! Good stuff!
Paul
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
28) Mobility and Meteorology
Mobility Aids on 2/26/2010 7:13:49
I hope to see the government liasing with people who have disabilities and the elderley when plough cash into projects concerning mobility.
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February 13th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
29) Mobility and Meteorology
Ari Herzog on 2/17/2010 18:53:42
Comparing the CES trends of 2009 and 2010, do you care to predict what the 2011 trends will be? Or… dare I suggest 2015 trends in five years? Where is innovation going?
Cell phones are not new; they’ve been around for many moons. So, innovation is not creating new things but new ways of using old things. We agree mobility is today; what’s tomorrow — and will the government, DARPA and IARPA excluded, be using it tomorrow?
14) Mobility and Meteorology
Haggard on 5/21/2010 20:07:16
Yes, technology is growing and has grown so fast in the past few years. We are world on the move and because of the advances I think we all suffer from ADD syndrome.
Whatever would we do if we had to do only just a few years ago when we actually had to get off the road and look for a pay phone to communicate with someone. OUCH. All of these “texters” would probably die.
Good post.
13) Mobility and Meteorology
Dustin Cannon on 5/25/2010 2:27:22
The mobility trend is growing to new heights and the iPhone Apps that are available right now are tremendous. I agree with you that this has many advantages and could enhance, if used the right way, the workflow of anybody in a great way. As an Apple fan, the new iPad is my favorite “Workpad” now.
Thanks for this blog post Casey!
12) Mobility and Meteorology
Workplace Harassment Buster on 6/22/2010 22:04:07
I LOVE technology and what it is helping us to accomplish, and definitely love the option of working from home instead of having to deal with horrendous commutes. Especially in light of bad weather.
Sometimes though I feel like all of our conveniences have trapped us even more… Why not just stay home and enjoy bad weather? Is the world REALLY going to fall apart if some people don’t make it into work?
Sometimes the weather is an opportunity to take a break and BREATHE…
I’m just sayin’…
11) Mobility and Meteorology
Workplace Harassment Buster on 6/24/2010 20:58:00
Personally, if the weather is THAT bad, I’d just rather stay home and read a fabulous book.
We have technologied ourselves to death, and sometimes nature just wants to give us a break, don’t you think??
10) Mobility and Meteorology
Anonymous on 7/1/2010 21:45:53
With the advancement of technology, everything goes out high-tech. Things are becoming easier but poses some negative effects. I just hope that people will be more responsible with using devices and applying technology in everything they do.
9) Mobility and Meteorology
netbook applications comunity on 7/2/2010 17:39:32
The mobility trend is growing to new heights and the iPhone Apps that are available right now are tremendous. I agree with you that this has many advantages and could enhance, if used the right way, the workflow of anybody in a great way. As an Apple fan, the new iPad is my favorite
8) Mobility and Meteorology
Jack Keeth on 7/21/2010 23:47:22
I love my iphone and check to see if I have any new orders at the breakfast table. Saves me from firing up the PC first thing.
I will get an ipad after they get the bugs out and the price drops.
7) Mobility and Meteorology
Hal Major on 7/22/2010 5:29:35
I don’t see any reduction in the rising trend of mobile information sharing, especially with the programs being developed to transmit 100GB/sec. I just got my iPad in here in Australia and have become addicted within a week.
Where will it be by 2015? I believe that depends on whether there is governmental support or opposition.
6) quinoa recipes
Nicoletta on 8/3/2010 1:30:17
I can completely relate to this article. Though we do not have snow here, we have rains from June to September.
5) Mobility and Meteorology
Anonymous on 8/6/2010 10:27:32
Technology is going to shape the way we communicate.With that being said whoever controls the way we communicate really has the upper hand. There a quite a few big players. But we are making strides to get ahead with mobility.
4) Mobility and Meteorology
jamie lore on 9/1/2010 0:51:23
Technology has not only brought us mobility but also the age of proximity. At any rate, both have very encouraging effects on trade, transportation and communication. It will also necessitate continuing changes in laws that govern societies as technology becomes an everyday tool.
Jamie Lore
3) Mobility and Meteorology
IE on 11/11/2010 2:59:48
Nice to know. Somehow, A lot still needs to be done concerning cellphone and other mobile devices. Issues with pricing and security still a lot to figure out on my end.
2) Mobility and Meteorology
Jason L on 11/19/2010 3:51:45
Mobility is going to be the dominant trend for years to come. Not just in communication, but in commerce and other parts of our lives too. I believe we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.
1) Mobility and Meteorology
Julio Pharris on 12/17/2010 9:09:59
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