Smartphones, Desktops and Feds: The OMB Rebuttal

Wow, I had no idea the OMB director actually was reading this blog. I guess I'll keep that in mind the next time I post something snarky about TV shows or rodents at the White House.

I'm referring to Peter Orszag's post on OMB's blog responding to my post yesterday about his recent comment that federal employees have more access to "cutting-edge computer power and programs" on their smartphones than at their offices. I wondered whether that might be overstating the case a little bit.

Orszag makes the very good point that it all depends on the definition of "computer power and programs." He says rather than looking at it in terms of things like processor speed, it "may be best defined as one's ability to use technology to interact with the world in a rapid, user-friendly way." And he goes on to note that on his personal BlackBerry he "can track the status of a shipment, buy goods and services, make travel, hotel and restaurant reservations, and collaborate with friends and colleagues - all online pretty much anytime and anywhere."

Orszag laments that innovative technologies like the hundreds of thousands of apps that have been developed for the iPhone "are scarce to nonexistent within the federal government." He says agencies need to focus on the "rapid development and implementation of useful services," and it's hard to argue with that.

What's more, one of the commenters on my previous post makes the point that I could very well be wrong that my eight-to-10 year old computer actually had more power than my Droid phone.

(And by the way, I'll also add, just because I can't resist, that while it's nice to wake up to discover that the Washington Post has taken note of your exchange with the OMB director, the very definition of a mixed blessing is to find yourself described as the "dean" of something.)