Topic: Government

From rebuilding communities in Detroit around technological and artistic innovation to improving legal services, each of these speakers share their experiences and insights as to why groups succeed - and sometimes fail - in their attempts to adopt the latest information technology developments and apply them to the greater public good.

In these two Gov 2.0 presentations, Jeffrey A. Sorenson and Clay Johnson, respectively, showcase the inventive winning entries and motivations behind "Apps for the Army" and The Sunlight Foundation's "Design for America" competitions. Through utilizing the potential and input of the wider community, both initiatives aim to encourage new ideas, and ultimately better practices, for government.

Dr. Moira Gunn talks about journalism and the internet with author and former Former Associated Press correspondent, Tom Rachman. Rachman's debut book, The Imperfectionists, begins as a celebration of the original 24/7 news cycle with focused on the personal lives of various news reporters, executives, copy editors, and a reader.

Dr. Moira Gunn sits down with author, Parag Khanna, to discuss the idea of mega-diplomacy from the pages of his new book, How to Run the World … Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance.

Technology-fueled bottom up change is coming to 21st century diplomacy and statecraft. In this Gov 2.0 presentation, Alec Ross speaks about the State Department's commitment to a revamped technology initiative that makes diplomacy more citizen-centered. The new initiative seeks to empower everyone through Internet freedom, innovative ideas and a policy framework that does not replace diplomacy but prioritizes using technology to facilitate exchange and understanding.

In this Gov 2.0 presentation, Sonal Shah, head of Social Innovation and Civic Participation for the United States Government, discusses the role of technology in improving the country. From education to healthcare, Shah highlights opportunities for social innovation, and references current and future projects that both have, and will, improve communities across the nation.

Incident responders can use social media as they rush to put aid in place after disasters. Jeannie Stamberger, of the Disaster Management Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, shares her studies of crowd-sourcing. When disasters impact populated areas, social media helps agencies quickly identify the extent of the damage. This audio interview covers utilization of social media for disaster response, planning and risk analysis.

The government is not a vending machine for services. In this Gov 2.0 presentation Tim O'Reilly discusses how the government can be a development platform for greatness by taking advantage of web 2.0 features ranging from cloud computing and social media to mobile platforms.

Digital topographic maps are just one example of the new geospatial information accessible to you (and your software via API's). Mark L. DeMulder reports on The National Map of the United States, a collaborative effort to deliver downloadable data and maps, products and services. The geographic information includes "orthoimagery (aerial photographs), elevation, geographic names, hydrography, boundaries, transportation, structures, and land cover." Other types of information can be superimposed to create new types of maps.

Got a great business idea? Consider taking it to Chile, where the government is now offering $40,000 grants and one-year visas to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop their companies, through a program called Start-Up Chile. In this audio interview, Stanford Social Innovation correspondent Ashkon Jafari talks with Nicolas Shea, innovation advisor to the Chilean minister of economy, about the program's genesis, goals, and progress so far.