Government Zest for Mobile Computing Grows

With snow on the ground and the wind chill factor below zero in much of the United States this time of year, mobile computing is sounding like a very good idea.

Distributors Face Heated Competition In Fast-Changing Sector

But it could be a harbinger of what the ilk of Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) of Santa Ana, Calif., Tech Data Corp. (TECD) of Clearwater, Fla., Merisel Inc. (MSEL) of El Segundo, Calif., and MicroAge Inc. (MICA) of Tempe, Ariz., will see in the coming year as competition heats up for market share between manufacturers and distributors.

Time To Change

The surge among state and local governments to install new financial management systems or upgrade current ones shows no sign of abating as officials seek greater cost efficiencies through integration of agencywide software systems, analysts and company officials said.

The Final Frontier for Client-Server Computing

Client-server computing has proven a godsend to many businesses for automating paper-based work flows and imposing standard processes across geographically dispersed operations. By contrast, state and county courts have been slow to deploy client-server technology despite its potential benefits for the efficient and timely processing of mounting case loads.

Master of Disaster

GIS is beginning to gain serious recognition as a versatile technology for civilian and defense applications including land management and logistics as well as emergency response.In the wake of Hurricane Georges this summer, U.S. government emergency relief organizations faced the difficult task of helping to restore vital infrastructure to areas damaged by the storm.

Transportation Gets Moving

The Transportation Department is choosing more manageable information technology ventures and using flexible contract vehicles as it begins wide-ranging projects to upgrade the nationÕs transportation systems.

GUEST OPINION Y2K

As anxiety mounts over the inability of federal agencies to meet the year 2000 compliance challenge, there is one shining example of success today.

GAO's Willemssen:Knee Deep in Year 2000

Since the General Accounting Office identified the year 2000 computer problem as a high-risk area in February 1997, Joel Willemssen, 42, has been at the center of the storm. In the last two years, the GAOÕs director of civil agencies, information systems, has testified on Capitol Hill more than 25 times.

Year 2000 Countdown...

In the last eight months, federal agencies have nearly doubled the number of computer systems that are year 2000 compliant, but lawmakers and private sector experts say the government isnÕt out of the woods and federal agencies will continue to feel the heat.

Growing With the Technology: A Case Study

With slight hesitation, Charlie Lybrand admits he barely knew how to turn on a PC four years ago. The learning curve he rode since then serves him well now that heÕs transformed his county government office in Charleston, S.C., into a modern imaging shop full of knowledge workers.

Agencies Get the Picture:

Dozens of NASA scientists and engineers working on the Deep Space 1 project used videoconferencing technology to discuss and plan critical elements of the spacecraft mission scheduled for launch this month.

Rising Demand Creates Robust Imaging Environment

John Grizz Deal is riding high in the IT imaging saddle these days. The president and CEO of LizardTech Inc., Seattle, says the company is growing faster than he ever imagined. At last count, he has turned down six suitors who wanted to buy the firm.

HottestTeams Ticket: Get Creative and Win Business

Three of this yearÕs hottest contracts illustrate vividly the challenges and teaming solutions the winning teams are bringing to bear as government agencies place more and more responsibility on the backs of industry.

Navy Leverages Networks To Increase Efficiency

The Navy is weighing anchor on two projects that could set a pattern for the militaryÕs use of information networks to improve efficiency in areas such as transporting supplies and filling job openings.

Hungry for Bandwidth

High bandwidth is a must for business quality videoconferencing, where 30 frames per second (fps) for near broadcast quality is expected by commercial and government customers alike, industry officials say.

Maintenance Management Systems on the Rise

To improve the upkeep of their far-flung facilities and assets, military and civilian agencies are deploying maintenance management software systems that can be programmed to provide efficient oversight of basic facility or program operations.

Ohio's New IT Backbone

A ground-breaking initiative is in the works in Ohio to revamp a 50-year-old radio communications system with a state-of-the-art backbone network that will link no less than 12 state agencies responsible for emergency management.

Agencies Offer Steady Diet Of Maintenance Services

Third-party service providers are competing with product manufacturers for a slice of the growing federal market to maintain healthy computer systems.

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