Potholepalooza by way of Twitter: Is it the New Way of Gathering Statistics?

In the DCist blog on http://dcist.com/2009/03/fenty_klein_announce_potholepalooza.php, there is talk about the growing number of potholes in the District, as it is the season for potholes to appear on the city’s streets. This happens when the temperature fluctuates, which in turn, makes the asphalt expand and contract, thus creating large cracks, gaps, and potholes. The acting director of the District Department of Transportation, Gabe Klein, and Mayor, Adrian Fenty have “announced this year’s pothole filling blitz” as “Potholepalooza,” which the DCist’s blog comically describes as the combat of oncoming Potholepocalypse.

The blog goes on to describe Potholepalooza as a “month-long campaign to encourage residents and commuters to report potholes, starting today and running through April 11.” The reporting methods residents are encouraged to use are “calling the Mayor’s Call Center at 311, filling out a request through the Online Service Request Center at www.dc.gov, or – new this year – emailing potholepalooza@dc.gov or tweeting a message to www.twitter.com/DDOTDC.” This year’s initiative has embraced technology by broadening its contact methods. Calling or filling out forms online has always been an acceptable method of communication, but tweeting could be viewed as the next best method that young DC/metropolitans can use to reach out to the Mayor’s Call Center.

In my opinion, most people living or working in the DC area are connected to the Internet most of the time. Whether it’s via blackberry or personal computer, an individual can tap into the World Wide Web at any given time to report potholes. I believe it is a very smart move to introduce this method of communication to DC/metropolitans for reporting potholes because it enables the DC government to reach out to a broader audience. We all know that Twitter is the new trend for teens to late twenties. Using Twitter to report potholes may encourage the younger population to participate. This method can help offset the other methods of communication where there is a lower response from the younger age group. Broadening the methods of communication for the Potholepalooza initiative can help DC government gather useful statistics on what is important to its residents and commuters. Taking the Twitter idea and implementing it in other initiatives not only quantifies the data received, but also qualifies the statistics when comparing it to other initiatives.

When Will the Rest of the World Embrace Technology? Soon, Perhaps…

In the Yahoo! News article, Afghan Tech Boom: Mullah Embraces iPhone, on http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090303/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_iphone_mullah, it states that former Taliban ambassador; Mullah Abdul Salaam Zaeef was once an ultra-conservative “Taliban who banned modern technology like the Internet and TV during its harsh 1996-2001 rule.” He sticks to his culture by wearing a black turban and thick beard; however his attitude towards technology has changed. Today, he owns one of the most technical gadgets – an Apple iPhone.

The article goes on to say that Zeef is very dependent on his iPhone. He uses it to surf the Internet and takes advantage of the built-in GPS in order to find difficult locations. Zeef even does his online banking through his iPhone. He refers to his iPhone as easy and modern and states that “This is necessary in the world today. People want to progress."

In my opinion, no one can ignore technology. Technology is there for people to use. It makes our lives much easier. The Taliban who still live in the Stone Age by making everything from scratch, will soon realize that technology can aid them in accomplishing things in a more efficient and effective manner. I believe the Taliban will get there soon. This article is proving to us that the world is making huge progress towards embracing technology.

There are so many people that are using technology in order to be effective and efficient. For example, the Internet was used quite extensively in the 2008 presidential campaign, which helped spread knowledge about each candidate and branch out to hard-to-reach audiences. Just recently, a Maryland county incorporated anonymous texting as a feature for reporting crimes for its residents to use in addition to the anonymous tip hotline via the phone. Another grand example of people embracing technology is seen in the Obama Administration’s website, www.whitehouse.gov, which gives the people of America information they can use such as blogs, slideshows, and briefings. The American people are now empowered to voice their opinions and become informed on the daily tasks of the President. So my advice to the technology laggards is to get with the program – embrace technology. It is there to help you, not hurt you. Besides, the rest of the world is waiting.