tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post1318107841573500590..comments2023-11-02T20:45:14.873+11:00Comments on eGov AU: How should governments treat mobile apps in an age of open data?Craig Thomlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350603210658700252noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-16912482331360000322012-10-26T15:37:13.615+11:002012-10-26T15:37:13.615+11:00Great post Craig and interesting comments. As CFA&...Great post Craig and interesting comments. As CFA's Digital Media Manager I've been involved with the FireReady app since it's inception in 2009 after Black Saturday. We're really pleased that the developer involved with FireReady has taken the knowledge, skills, and experience they gained working with emergency services experts in Victoria and have now partnered with Ripe Intel to produce a commercial all-Australia emergency app. I agree that agencies must ensure that core (statutory) responsibilities to provide emergency information are met. Partnering with experts in the private sector is certainly the best (most effective & efficient) way for that to happen. As you point out, a completely independent commercial app could shut up shop without notice and leave a gap in the provision of emergency info. But there are advantages in having "unofficial" apps as they may be able to push the envelope quicker and further than the official govt apps (legal and bureaucratic restraints). A great example of this is the Observation reports section of the EmergencyAus app. I believe this could provide lifesaving information to the community and even emergency services but it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for an official emergency service app to provide that sort of functionality at this point in time.Martin Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-77347891230080484912012-10-25T14:55:54.737+11:002012-10-25T14:55:54.737+11:00Absolutely. And once you've got something like...Absolutely. And once you've got something like that out there, there is an expectation that you continue to do so forevermore.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-18513373686475017682012-10-25T11:04:32.647+11:002012-10-25T11:04:32.647+11:00A well timed post Craig, thanks. I'd add anoth...A well timed post Craig, thanks. I'd add another dimension in the mix - credibility or authority of the App. If an App is branded as 'Government' does the user have different, and higher, expectations about accuracy of the content than if it's branded with a less well known vendor? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813814244827327427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-15414600416715456652012-10-25T10:49:19.046+11:002012-10-25T10:49:19.046+11:00I agree with many of your points Craig however I b...I agree with many of your points Craig however I believe there is an aspect to this issue that has been overlooked. The primary role of Government in this space MUST be to provide timely and relevant intelligence (relating to an emergency). Once truly useful information is available, this can be delivered via a multitude of media (radio, tv, apps, webs etc). With experience on both sides of the fence on this one, it is disheartening to see government invest in developing app’s with sub-par and disparate content. In my humble opinion, until the Government get the provision of information correct, they shouldn’t waste their resources on a glossy front ends. <br />Another challenge for Governments is the related risk and jurisdictional boundaries agencies have. Cross agency, cross border, cross hazard data integration is a costly consultation exercise to achieve. If the focus was on the provision of clean, accurate and timely data feeds, rather than trying to compete with app/website developers the general public would be much better off. <br />Any solution in this space should be developed by a team who has a solid background and experience in emergency management and the appropriate IT skills. A true partnership between Government and private is what is required here.<br /><br />Luke (RIPE Intel)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-83007888214424926812012-10-25T09:56:50.976+11:002012-10-25T09:56:50.976+11:00Interesting article and thoughts here Craig. Know...Interesting article and thoughts here Craig. Knowing this industry very well, it needs to be a combination of a mobile application experts and industry subject matter experts, to really deliver a truly winning App. Neither party can know, nor can deliver all that's required. <br /><br />The App MUST look, be amazing to use and of course, you're only 50% of the way there as content is king. Both parties have to work closely with each other to achieve this.<br /><br />Might I add, the CFA App was actually developed by Gridstone as well - http://http://gridstone.com.au/work/cfa-fireready<br /><br />Cheers<br />ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com