U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is putting IT and technology on the national stage--literally. He relied heavily on the use of the Internet and social media tools like Facebook, Flickr and text messaging throughout his campaign.
And now he plans to appoint the country's first chief technology officer (CTO), a cabinet-level position aimed squarely at bringing technology in the public sector up to par with private industries.
There is a lot of speculation centered on who will fill the trailblazing position. Names supposedly on the shortlist Shane Robinson of HP and Edward Felten of Princeton University.
Never has a U.S. president recognized the importance of IT and technological innovation like Obama. And this is sure to be good for industry projects down the road. In fact, two of Obama's three technology pillars on his website indicate increased project activity.
1. Barack Obama will protect the openness of the Internet:
Obama and [Vice President-elect Joe] Biden strongly support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.
2. Deploy a modern communications infrastructure:
Obama and Biden believe we can get true broadband to every community in America.
3. Improve America's competitiveness:
Obama and Biden will ensure our goods and services are treated fairly in foreign markets, invest in the sciences, and will provide new research grants to the most outstanding early career researchers in the country.
And now he plans to appoint the country's first chief technology officer (CTO), a cabinet-level position aimed squarely at bringing technology in the public sector up to par with private industries.
There is a lot of speculation centered on who will fill the trailblazing position. Names supposedly on the shortlist Shane Robinson of HP and Edward Felten of Princeton University.
Never has a U.S. president recognized the importance of IT and technological innovation like Obama. And this is sure to be good for industry projects down the road. In fact, two of Obama's three technology pillars on his website indicate increased project activity.
1. Barack Obama will protect the openness of the Internet:
Obama and [Vice President-elect Joe] Biden strongly support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.
2. Deploy a modern communications infrastructure:
Obama and Biden believe we can get true broadband to every community in America.
3. Improve America's competitiveness:
Obama and Biden will ensure our goods and services are treated fairly in foreign markets, invest in the sciences, and will provide new research grants to the most outstanding early career researchers in the country.
this is encouraging to read, but IT and technology has been around. It's nice to see a president take advantage of it.