Identifying the hot new thing can be fraught with peril. Sometimes, after all, they don’t pan out. Remember when New Coke, DeLorean cars and the Zune media player were supposed to take the world by storm? They’re famous in our cultural lexicon for being big-ticket flops.
But when a year ends — and 2017 is suddenly upon us — it’s hard to resist calling out a trend or two as we turn the calendar, and to take a moment to consider the future. With that in mind, knowing that prognostication can make one look silly, here are three takeaways as I see them from the year gone by.
Technology is broadening in California. By that, I simply mean that there are more state government executives and staff, agencies and departments, and civic innovators taking a proactive role in tech-focused initiatives than perhaps at any time in recent memory. The Government Operations Agency is spearheading work on open data, while the Child Welfare Digital Services organization is showing how alternative procurement and development methods could lead to successful outcomes. Meanwhile, the California Department of Technology is creating an innovation lab and reshaping the state’s digital services. The momentum from a variety of directions is evident.
Innovation is becoming more than a buzzword. California state government is pushing forward with new technologies and new approaches that would have seemed implausible just a few years ago. The state released a new guidebook on agile development, and it seems likely that more state projects, big and small, will use agile principles when appropriate. California hired its first-ever chief data officer, and the state launched its own dedicated cybersecurity integration center in response to the growing threat of cyberattacks directed at governments around the world. California also is starting to plan for next-gen cloud technologies, staying ahead of the curve. The velocity of change in state government appears to be speeding up.
Elected leaders are engaged. Perhaps one of the more impactful and encouraging developments from 2016 was the emergence of the California State Legislature’s new Technology and Innovation Caucus. The group of lawmakers, now more than two dozen strong, is educating its members and constituents about the nuances of technology, and is bringing forward legislation that’s tech-savvy. It’s apparent there is recognition among legislators that technology is impacting and touching more and more of Californians’ everyday lives, and that the state Capitol can be a champion for successful government projects, continuing innovation and the state’s world-leading tech economy.
You can read more about these initiatives and others in our year in review magazine issue.
As we move into 2017, the future is as bright as ever for Techwire, now in its sixth year chronicling the projects and people working to modernize California’s technology infrastructure. We have some exciting changes and enhancements in store. Beginning in 2017, Techwire is switching to a monthly newsletter for Insider members (replacing this quarterly magazine) to give our readers timelier access to the newest information. You’ll also see additions to our website, including a new data toolkit, an improved legislative tracker, a contacts database and much more coming in 2017. We’re eager for the year ahead.
Finally, on a personal note, I should mention that I’m excited and honored to be the new editor of Techwire. I have been a journalist covering the public-sector technology sphere for the better part of the past 10 years, including the last three for Techwire. I welcome your feedback and comments as our publication and daily online Insider newsletter continue to be the go-to source for news and information about California’s IT community.
Thank you for reading.
This commentary was originally published in the winter 2016 issue of Techwire magazine.
