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Mobility Event to share government technology solutions, training for state agencies

An event scheduled to take place February 8 in Sacramento will showcase government and private sector technology solutions and offer training opportunities for executives, IT staff and developers, according to event organizers.

Government Mobility 2012 will highlight mobile technology for state and local government as well as education officials in an effort to share and acknowledge successful solutions that may be useful across organizations, according to event organizer Russ Hicks.

"The focus is to help government learn how to leverage technology to deliver government services more effectively," Hicks said.

The event will offer three areas of focus, with an executive track for state and local government and education executives, education sessions for IT staff who manage and support the implementation of technology, and a development lab for staff who create the technology, according to Hicks. Gathering all groups in one place could push mobile technology forward, improving access for Californians, he said.

“Our events have always focused on the government being the recipient of the education delivered by the private sector," Hicks explained. "This forum is a little bit of a departure in that the state is already doing some very innovative things within this mobility space. To leverage this work we have added one cool component to this forum in the form of a government solutions area that demonstrates innovative mobile technology examples that state, local government and educational groups are already deploying in an open framework."

Executive track attendees will hear presenters including California Technology Agency Secretary Carlos Ramos, who will speak with attendees about how mobile technology will impact government during his tenure.

"As we in government try to figure out ways of using technology to make government more accessible and responsive to its constituents, we’re having to come to terms with the fact that more and more of the public is using mobile devices&hellipso we’re recognizing that it’s a platform that needs to be addressed," Ramos said today.

The Technology Agency has worked on the event planning committee and will also present information on the agency’s current mobile projects, Ramos said. The issue of mobile access is also personal, he added.

"I just want folks to know that for me personally it’s an important issue and one that I see that government needs to pay attention to," Ramos said.

In addition to the Technology Agency presenting mobile platforms, other agencies will present platforms in the event’s "Solution Center." Attendees will vote on the best solutions presented by government agencies, with awards presented for coolest, most innovative, most valuable program, and best of show, according to Hicks. Businesses will showcase solutions in a separate solution center.

The Government Mobility 2012 event will take place Feb. 8 at the Sacramento Convention Center. The event is free. Preregistration is required and space is limited.