Digital Services

Lingering changes from the pandemic. Economic headwinds. Ever-increasing constituent demands. Here are the major trends David Knox with Oracle sees driving government technology work in 2023.

A $2.28 million federal grant will allow the city to upgrade its 911 emergency dispatch center and implement new technology that will allow dispatchers to do their jobs more efficiently, officials say.

The plan to use ChatGPT to assist with search engine queries for a select group of users has run into some problems – the disposition of the AI being one of them. Users are reporting incorrect information and attitude.

The Cowlitz County Auditor's Office is currently building an online database for records stretching from the 1850s to present day. Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland hopes to have the project complete by the end of 2024.

In his proposed budget last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined millions of dollars for the state’s Department of Management Services. The money would fund modernization and cybersecurity efforts among other initiatives.

CitizenKey, which began development last year, is built on the ServiceNow platform and can be used by small cities and larger public agencies. It is designed to meet the demand for more government digital services.

The City Council has approved the allocation of $4 million to fix the ailing 311 system. The new system will require vendors to offer a mobile application and the ability to create reports based on the calls being received.

The Capital Region Crime Analysis Center in Albany will be growing as part of a $500,000 investment that includes more space and new staff. The center is part of a state-supported network that provides aid to law enforcement agencies.

Rural parts of the state are seeing 24/7 book vending machines in places like city halls. The machines are meant to bridge the gap for areas not populated enough for a full-time library.

New software, called tip411, is making it possible for residents to submit anonymous crime tips to police via text message. The tool also allows the department to respond to the messages in real time.

The December cyber attack against third-party vendor Cott Systems knocked the records services offline for several weeks. Officials now report that the system is back online and that no data was lost in the incident.

The North Carolina library system began handing out refurbished laptops to eligible adults in Mecklenburg County this week as part of the MeckTech program. The initiative is focused on boosting computer and Internet access.

The new software will integrate city police, prosecutors and the court with the information needed to automate workflows and quick legal processes. The system is expected to be in place by the summer.

The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office went live with an online reporting system for non-emergency calls. The office has had to keep up with the demands of a growing population and limited staff.

The Patrolfinder software, from Schenectady-based Transfinder, is giving officers in the field and at the station real-time data about calls for service and emergency calls, as well as the locations of other officers.

The Yolo Superior Court has started to send text messages regarding court dates, continuances and cancellations through their mobile smartphone. The notifications are only available to those involved in the proceedings.

Congress has passed new legislation that would limit the sale of U.S.-owned high-tech companies to Chinese entities. The new rules would also limit government agency cooperation between the U.S. and China.

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a state budget Tuesday that seeks to address an estimated $22.5 billion shortfall, bringing both investment and spending reductions for IT over several years.