ITEC convention
In his opening remarks at Providence’s ITEC Convention, Gov. Lincoln Almond praised members of Rhode Island’s high tech community for their involvement and contributions to the state’s economy.
The fourth annual convention, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center, began with the Governor’s Breakfast, hosted by Almond and sponsored by Cox Business Services.
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Almond told attendees about the role technology plays in the state’s economy, and about economic conditions in general.
“When I talk to other governors, it seems, at this point, the Rhode Island economy is stronger than even some of our neighbors,” he said, but warned “there are storm clouds ahead.”
Almond said he believes technology can play an important role in Rhode Island’s economic future, soon via the state’s new government portal, www.ri.gov.
“We want Rhode Islanders to get their money’s worth from their state government,” said State Chief Information Officer Barbara Weaver.
The portal, Weaver said, will provide an electronic doorway to state and local government.
“We want people to find out about the government and perform functions without having to know about the bureaucracy of state government,” she said, the goal being to “provide services on an online basis, rather than an in-line basis.”
In June, the state signed a contract with New England Interactive, a subsidiary of the National Information Consortium that also operates the official government portal for the State of Maine.
Over the next year, the state intends to offer fee-based and free services online including vanity plate registration, parking ticket payment, business permits application and tax payment.
“Our aim is to offer at least one free service to residents of this state for every fee-based service that is offered,” said Weaver.
One feature, “Ask a Librarian,” will allow users to type in a question to be answered by a reference librarian. Online patrons will receive their response via e-mail.
Once completed, ri.gov should help the Ocean State “move very quickly into the rest of the 21st Century,” Weaver said.
Cox Communications New England Vice President and General Manager Greg Bicket presented awards to companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Rhode Island’s high tech industry, including Newport’s Silverlight Productions and the New England Institute of Technology.
Jay McNally, Chief Executive Officer of Ibis Consulting and Jeffrey Deckman, Chief Executive Officer of Synet, Inc. were recognized for their outstanding community service. Ocean State Higher education, Economic development and Administrative Network (OSHEAN) Executive Director George Loftus offered a status report on the organization, which serves to foster the development of a high-speed communications infrastructure for research and education.
OSHEAN has grown from three to 11 members since 1999, including Brown University, Cooperating Libraries Automated Network, the Community College of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center at Bryant College, Johnson & Wales University, Lifespan, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island Network for Educational Technology, the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island State Government and the University of Rhode Island.
A recent demonstration of the network’s capabilities allowed observers at the University of Rhode Island Providence Campus to “listen in” as students at Rhode Island School for the Deaf shared their perspectives on life after September 11 with peers at Maine’s Baxter School for the Deaf.
Loftus said he feels good about the growing organization’s ability to continue to increase membership and focus on developing its services now that the network’s infrastructure is in place.
“While most of technology efforts in the region are high and dry, in the Ocean State, surf’s up,” he said.
Additional ITEC coverage can be found next week in Providence Business News’ High Technology Monthly.
