Readers offer stuffing for IT turkey
Readers suggest a few projects that could have made our Thanksgiving list of failed, or deeply troubled, government IT projects and debate the causes of such large-scale failures.
Britain looks to take Data.gov concept to the next level
The United Kingdom's Cabinet Office is developing a Web site in the style of the U.S. government's Data.gov that could advance the concept through use of Semantic Web technology.
IT turkeys: 7 government projects worthy of a roast
Over the years, the American public has been gifted with its share of computer-based turkeys -- information technology projects gone wrong, often at spectacular expense.
ICANN approves non-Latin characters for domain names
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is opening the Web to millions of users by allowing the use of any of the world’s language scripts in the domain names of Uniform Resource Locators, the Internet addresses also known as URLs.
Readers defend PDF format against critics
Readers were of two minds in responding to our report on the Sunlight Foundation’s criticisms of PDF. Several stressed the need for better-educated users. Others contended that data shouldn't always be easy to get at.
Can DOD's stance on open source change the status quo?
Reader reaction to our coverage of new Defense Department guidance that puts open-source software on equal footing with proprietary software has ranged from cheers to questions about whether the move will change anything.
Social-media tools are fine, but beware their playground rules
Agencies getting into the social-media game are using blogs, Facebook pages and tweets to good effect, but they should keep in mind the rules of this particular playground. Basically, there are none.
Teamwork takes center-stage at GCN Awards Gala
Members of the government IT community gathered in Washington to honor the project teams and individuals whose work earned them GCN Awards for Agency IT Achievement.
Short-distance data transfers just might be for the birds
Employees at a South African IT company race a carrier pigeon carrying a flash card against the country's leading ADSL provider. It wasn't even close.
For some users, Windows 7 upgrade could take 20 hours
Tests conducted by Microsoft show that upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows 7 will be about 5 percent faster than previous upgrades involving Vista. But in certain situations, "faster" could mean more than 20 hours.
IEEE ratifies 802.11n wireless standard
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has formally approved the 802.11n specification for wireless LANs, seven years after the ratification process began and a couple years after information technology shops started using “draft-n” devices.
Researchers apply synthetic DNA to explore next frontier in processors
Just as the makers of microprocessors appear to be reaching the practical limits of integrated circuits, researchers could be opening new frontiers in chip technology by making use of DNA molecules.
Tales from the federal hiring labyrinth: Readers tell their stories
An information technology professional who expressed his frustration at trying to find a job in government finds plenty of kindred souls among GCN readers.
NSPS: An improvement or just another good ol' boy network?
When Defense Business Board recommended an overhaul of the Defense Department’s controversial National Security Personnel System, federal employee unions were quick to call the measure insufficient. GCN readers, particularly those who work within the system, were not far behind with their own opinions.
A few creative options for working without Word
If a deal isn't reached in the Microsoft Word patent infrigement case, what are the alternatives?
Contractors' complaints about agency 'poaching' of IT pros don't resonate with GCN readers
GCN readers show little sympathy for contractors concerned about government agencies 'poaching' their employees.
Army uses a wiki to let personnel rewrite field manuals
The Army created a wiki to let any of its personnel offer rewrites to one of seven field manuals. If it works, many others could follow.
Readers get into the weeds of Microsoft ruling
Some of the people who commented on the coverage were glad to see the software giant take a hit. But Microsoft was not alone -- the federal judge in the U.S. District of East Texas who made the ruling as well as the U.S. system for issuing patents also came in for criticism.
Readers expound on the pro and cons of agile development
In a response to a commentary about being wary of some information technology trends, readers discuss the value of agile development.
Q: What's a top-level domain? A: Practically anything.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers recently gave the OK on a potentially huge expansion of top-level domains. Under the new rules, pretty much anything goes.
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