AfterDawn: Tech news

President: All Gov sites must be optimized for mobile devices

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 May 2012 8:19 User comments (14)

President: All Gov sites must be optimized for mobile devices

President Barack Obama has mandated today that all major federal government agency sites must become optimized for mobile devices within a year.
By "optimized," the President means at least two key services must be available on mobile phones and tablets.

Additionally, the agencies must create websites to report "on their mobile progress." These sites must be published within 90 days.

Reads the White House press release:

Innovators in the private sector and the Federal Government have used these technological advances to fundamentally change how they serve their customers. However, it is time for the Federal Government to do more. For far too long, the American people have been forced to navigate a labyrinth of information across
different Government programs in order to find the services they need. In addition, at a time when Americans increasingly pay bills and buy tickets on mobile devices, Government services often are not optimized for smartphones or tablets, assuming the services are even available online.




You can read the full memo here: Building a 21st Century Digital Government

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14 user comments

125.5.2012 09:04

As if accessing the food pyramid on the USDA on my smart phone is a major concern. I would rather they save their money.

225.5.2012 10:55

This just shows what kind of a Putz this B.O. President is! By the way B.O. stands for Body Odor of course but some call him Barack Obama, I think the first fits better.

325.5.2012 19:50

Originally posted by Mr-Movies:
This just shows what kind of a Putz this B.O. President is! By the way B.O. stands for Body Odor of course but some call him Barack Obama, I think the first fits better.
Bbwwaaaa-ha..
LMAO!!!
This is an insane blanket order; the costs to the GPO alone would be in the billions to comply! And take years!!

426.5.2012 01:53

There are more than a few programs out there that can take a normal webpage and, with a little bit of work with a wizard to hold your hand if you don't know how to code, convert at least parts of said website into a mobile-optimized version. It is not that hard. And he did not say that every government webpage had to be optimized, just that at least 2 key services be available. Most mobile browsers can already convert most websites into semi-mobile-friendly versions already. All it would take would be a little bit of time by the coders, that each website would already have to keep it up-to-date, to make sure their code it not deprecated and whatnot. No way that it would cost billions and take years for the GPO alone. If so, then someone is taking their time and embezzling your tax dollars.

526.5.2012 06:43

I will take your word that it was limited to '2 key services", though I did not see that in the memo. Thanks!

626.5.2012 07:06

Quote:
By "optimized," the President means at least two key services must be available on mobile phones and tablets.
I read that in the article, not the memo itself, which I did reread just now. I guess when I read the article, then the memo, then replied, I mixed them both together. I stand corrected. Yet I wonder a couple things now:

1) Who stated the 2 key services line, and where did they get that? Was that from Andre?
2) What is the official word about what is available?

It would seem far fetched that every single webpage on every single .gov website would have to be mobile friendly considering most websites that are considered that already still have a LOT of content that is not optimized for mobile browsers. I would hazard a guess that the idea is just each site/agency's primary information or service be optimized, like most 'normal' sites currently do it. Can't wait to see an update to this.

728.5.2012 03:33

What a joke. Obama is a joke.

828.5.2012 11:31

Originally posted by chrialex:
There are more than a few programs out there that can take a normal webpage and, with a little bit of work with a wizard to hold your hand if you don't know how to code, convert at least parts of said website into a mobile-optimized version. It is not that hard. And he did not say that every government webpage had to be optimized, just that at least 2 key services be available. Most mobile browsers can already convert most websites into semi-mobile-friendly versions already. All it would take would be a little bit of time by the coders, that each website would already have to keep it up-to-date, to make sure their code it not deprecated and whatnot. No way that it would cost billions and take years for the GPO alone. If so, then someone is taking their time and embezzling your tax dollars.
You have NO IDEA HOW THE US GOVT WORKS!
The studies alone will be able to choke a horse. There will not be 1 study. Every site will have their own. I have worked for them as a contractor for over 20 yrs. Saving money is their enemy! Their job is to justify spending as much money as possible. If they can justify spending enough they will get promoted.

928.5.2012 12:27

And if they haven't spent their budget at its fiscal end they find a way to do so in order to get the same or more next year. A wonderful system it is!

1028.5.2012 13:56

You got it! Yes, if they do not spend all their money they are cut to what ever they spend the year before. There is no reward for trying to save money. The only reward is to spend more. If they have to cut, they might cut something vital just to prove they shouldn't have been cut in the first place.

1128.5.2012 15:15

Exactly.

1228.5.2012 21:15

Originally posted by Mr-Movies:
Exactly.
Have you worked in or for the US govt? You have a great grasp how it works.

1328.5.2012 21:58

Like you I have contracted for Government agencies on a local basis but have spent even more time with the military in the US as well as in foreign countries. I also have relatives in Government and my Dad was in the Navy which made me a military brat growing up. So yes I have some experience in this area. :)

Keep up the good work Mez!

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