NWSEO President’s Letter to Dr. Lubchenco: Order to
Stop Weather App Development in Direct Conflict with
Lubchenco’s Directive to Create Innovative Communications
printable copy
(December 29, 2011) The NWS’s decision to prohibit the use of resources to develop weather warning applications for wireless devises dismayed many members last week. The message from NWS Deputy Director Laura Furgione was delivered despite objections from a NWS emerging technology team.
A lot of you have expressed concern about the agency’s decision in an age where an increasing number of people are using these devices as their main source for receiving news, weather, and warning information. NWSEO President Dan Sobien sent a letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, asking her to rescind the directive to stop development of weather warning apps because is in direct conflict with Dr. Lubchenco’s October directive to “produce significant innovative communications projects.” President Sobien’s letter is available here.
Innovative Apps from Other Federal Agencies: What Forward Thinking Management Can Do
We, also, thought you might be interested in learning about the other government apps that are available for wireless devices. For the next few weeks, www.nwseo.org will highlight different apps created by government resources. You will find the applications useful and innovative. The NWS has the talent to create lifesaving weather applications that could far exceed the current model.
Government App of the Day:
BMI Calculator
One f the most popular tools on the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Web site is the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator. BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The NHLBI BMI calculator receives 1.6 million visitors a month and ranks #1 on Google. This mobile application provides results right on your phone along with links to healthy weight resources on the NHLBI Web site.
Jan. 6 - Baby Name Playroom
Search the most popular baby names of the past 130 years. This app from the Social Security Administration also includes a list of government-approved links to help you plan before and after your baby arrives.
Jan. 5 - IRS2Go
IRS2Go is an IRS-developed app designed to help taxpayers in several ways. The app lets taxpayers check on the status of their refund, sign up for helpful tax tips or get the most recent IRS Twitter feeds. Download IRS2Go, then connect with the IRS whenever you want, wherever you are.
Jan. 4 - Guide to Hous and Senate Members
The Guide to House and Senate Members features a congressional pictorial directory as well as other information on every Member of the 112th Congress. Users can browse for Members of Congress by last name, state, chamber, or party.
Jan. 3 - WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders)
WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders) is a mobile application designed to assist first responders in hazardous material incidents.
First responders in general, and HAZMAT units in particular, must make many decisions quickly in handling hazardous-materials incidents. They need accurate information about the hazardous substances, the emergency resources available, and the surrounding environmental conditions to save lives and minimize the impact on the environment and physical property.
Dec. 30 - Ask Karen - Safe Food Handling and Preparation
Ask Karen provides 24/7 virtual assistance and tips on preventing foodborne illness, safe food handling and storage, and safe preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products.
Dec. 29 -Chandra X-ray Observatory
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory is a telescope specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the Universe such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes.
Dec. 28 - ADlL mLearning Guide
This app is a resource guide for mobile learning. It is sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD P&R).
Dec. 27 - My TSA Transportation Safety Information