How is technology changing the way you innovate in your community?  Not all stories can be told in 140 characters, but when communities use the communication power of social networks, they are actually creating a less anonymous city and citizens are more encouraged, and willing to engage in community activities.  This small change in a communication/engagement strategy is a prime example of how technology is supporting municipal innovations.  Recently, I shared some useful insights on navigating and enjoying the power of the social media.  Here are some other trending technologies that I’ve come across on the Internet.

#BigData – “Data is a critical asset for state and local government.  What happens when you have too much data, and how do you make sense of it when data volume is growing 40% per year?”

#Cloud – “Cloud computing represents a fundamentally different way for government to architect computing resources.”

#Mobility – Global mobile data will increase 26-fold between 2010 and 2015 and there will be nearly one mobile device per capita by 2015.  Read how the Virginia Information Technology Agency is increasing employee productivity with BYOD.

#M2M – This is machine-to-machine communications, where one device transmits data wirelessly to another device.  Read The Center for Digital Government‘s piece on M2M and Smart Technology.

Advances in technology have allowed even the smallest municipalities to cost-effectively innovate.  Cutting costs and doing more with less is highly important in the municipal marketplace.  Don’t underestimate the power to effectively innovate because of the increases in the above technologies.  Communities should no longer be discouraged to try something “new” because they may fail.  Failure can be a learning opportunity and believe me, most of the above trending technologies, have failed somewhere along the way.

As new and improved technology solutions are introduced, local officials have many difficult decisions to make about implementing new technologies, sometimes at a sizeable investment, or stay with the status-quo and squeak out another year with their current software and hardware.  Don’t be fooled, both decisions have costs associated with them, and sometime staying with the status-quo will not save time or money.

So what is your community’s IT forecast?  Right now is the perfect time for you to look at cloud-based solutions for your community’s day-to-day operations.  Today, the cloud levels the playing field in terms of access to enterprise class hardware and software for communities of all sizes.  No longer do you need huge IT budgets and numerous IT staff to have the latest and greatest.

One solution that you can implement right away, is to look at moving your e-mail and office productivity applications to the cloud.  When I talk to different communities throughout Michigan, I find most are using Microsoft Office for their productivity suite of software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and Microsoft Exchange for their e-mail server. I also hear that costs associated with staying current with the newest versions of the applications are too high to implement across the board.  This leads to some city staff having different versions of the software and having to play the “Save As” game so that all documents can be shared.  This is a waste of time and can cause many problems.

Microsoft now offers Office 365, which is their cloud-based solution that combines the best of both worlds (desktop and cloud). You only pay for what you need, which can be determined by a per user basis, through subscription-based access.  It is easy to setup and use, your staff are already familiar with the applications. Office 365 allows your staff to work from virtually anywhere, with any device.  Office 365 for government can cost as little as $3.50 per user, per month.  All this while having your e-mail server protected and monitored 24/7 by a team of Microsoft specialists in a state of the art data warehouse.

Recently the Michigan Municipal League implemented Microsoft Office 365.  With Exchange online, we’ve moved our e-mail to the cloud and no longer have to spend resources keeping our on premise server patched, protected, backed up and monitored. The League’s plan includes the current Microsoft Office desktop applications.  By combining Office with Office 365, we have anytime, anywhere access to our applications, data and communications.

Discover Office 365 for yourself with this short video:

One of the eight assets of the MML’s Center for 21st Century Communities (21c3) programs is multiculturalism. Its the best way we could think of stating that being welcoming to all is as important as anything when it comes to communities prospering in the 21st century.

And someone who can be considered one of the forerunners in the discussion of “place”, Richard Florida, recently penned a article on the subject. It can be found in theatlanticcities.com, a on-line ezine from “The Atlantic” magazine. If you’re interested in issues involving cities, you should definitely have this in your twitter feed.

The article, titled “The Geography of Talent” discusses how places that are open to new ideas attract creative people from around the globe, broadening both their technology and talent capabilities, gaining a substantial economic edge.  Talent and technology are Florida’s other “T’s” for creating prosperous communities.

Florida notes that recent studies indicate that half of all Silicon Valley start-ups have at least one foreign born person as a founder.  Florida notes that “Tolerance  –  and openness to diversity and inclusiveness – is not an afterthought or something that happens when communities get rich. It is a key element of the new economic development equation.

Florida recently released a 10th anniversary revsied edition of his original work on the rise of the creative class. While one may not always agree with what he has to say, his work does provide for some thought provoking conversation.

Here are a couple of useful links to stories that will help you navigate the social media world.  Both social media neophytes and seasoned veterans will find this information helpful.

First up, from Mashable.com, a terrific social media resource on the Internet, a list of 12 essential cheat sheets on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  Also includes some tips on social media etiquette.

Next, a friend e-mailed me this morning saying he came across A Politician’s Guide to Social Media, and thought it was another good reminder to those in public office on how to conduct themselves in the social media world.  There is a short little video that you can watch from GovGirl which gives the following advice:

1. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want to see in tomorrow’s paper.
2. Know your agency’s social media policy.
3. Talk like a real person.
4. Abide by campaign and open meeting laws.
5. Never cross the streams!

The best thing about the Internet and social networking sites can also be the worst thing. Too much information and it becomes a daunting task to figure out where to start.  I hope these links and sites give you some insight on navigating and enjoying the power of social media.  As always, feel fee to contact me or comment on this blog for additional discussion.

The Lansing State Journal has a excellent series of articles about how to grow Michigan’s economy.  And once again the bottom line is about creating the kinds of places that people want to be in.

Articles from League partners, Lou Glazer at Michigan Future, and Dave Waymire of Martin-Waymire Communications detail the importance of smart, young workers and present a different kind of scorecard matching up Michigan with Massachuetts.

Pat Gillespie, a Lansing-based developer discusses the kinds of development needed to make a vibrant 21st Century commuity and Holly Hetzner of the Prima Civitas Foundation talks about the importance of nurturing entrepreneurs.  Other articles describe the importance of public art and social networking.

Sound familiar.. it should.  Each and every topic is among the eight assets of vibrant communities we’ve outlined in our “Center for 21st Century Communities.”  Through the work of the center, our blogs, books and radio show the conversation is changing to a understanding that Michigan’s future economic prosperity rests on investing in Michigan’s communities.  Its not too late to join us.

Mobile experiences impact the way we work, live and play.

I’m not talking about the old American Express commercials with Karl Malden.  I’m talking about our obsession with our mobile devices and how they are only a few feet from us at all times.

Mobile devices are changing the way we live, from how we share information, to the places we go and even to the way we prefer to communicate.  Technical advances in wireless broadband give us all the power of the internet at our fingertips anytime, anywhere.  In a recent Pew Internet and American Life Project report on mobile technology, 46% of all American adults own a smartphone and most use their devices to go online.

Mobile apps tie directly in with our social networking sites and allow all of us to share and/or “check-in” from our current location.  This “current location” could be in your community.  Communities should embrace the mobile app market, which can allow for direct communication with citizens and visitors to highlight parks, downtowns, and events.

There are a number of apps, such as SeeClickFix and App-Order.com, where citizens can report and get neighborhood issues fixed.  This is a powerful tool for creating citizen engagement.  Adding mobile applications to a community’s arsenal of communications, creates a better social connection with citizens, allowing citizens and municipalities to form a true partnership.