Information Technology: Rebooting America
Saroj Agrawal
and Prince Agarwal
MBA-IT
Indian Institute
of Information Technology - Allahabad
Revamping USA’s major
priorities like health care, education and energy infrastructure requires
technological innovations, and for this federal policy is focussed on
leveraging information technology. President Obama suggests that there is a
considerable role for technology and innovation across the wide range of
priorities. He believes that the power and potential of technology will assist
in reducing the health care costs, liberate energy efficiency through smart-grid
appliances, adding different level skills to the personnel.
Government has
formulated a plan to spend $10,000 to get broadband to the rural farmhouse. In
economist point of view there is little evidence that this outlay will have
payback for the economy. But extending access where services today don’t exist
is not major area of concern, but to achieve wider goals along with it. They
foresee innovations in health-care sector through telemedicine, telecentres,
distance learning and smart-grid infrastructure.
Operation of E-911
services incorporated with VoIP will anticipate both advancement and
improvement in emergency coverage bringing decrement in long-term costs. . United
States of America have a basic foundation for all the wireless phone users,
which is termed as E911 (Enhanced 911) where people can dial 911 for requesting
a help in case of any emergency. Government role in upgrading and elevating
technology has been in the form of investment in R&D or the procurement of
goods and services. For this private sector resources, universities and the
public sector is being together on a given problem.
USA is using
procurement opportunity to induce market innovation. For e.g. www.defensesolutions.gov, is a website
that is looking for innovation in Department of Defence Needs. They don’t procure a device but a solution.
Instead for finding the device, described by multi-item specification, the
department seeks for a solution. For e.g. “How to make a Field-test, if there
is a presence of explosives, drugs, or gunshot residue?” So in this way they
leave a room for technologies and procure an innovative solution. At present
many ideas has already been proposed and few are already being gripped. Even in the health sector, health care
providers seek to demonstrate good and meaningful use of technology to bring
improvement in the care quality, lower costs and patient communication.