Archive for the ‘Portals’ Category

GSA is Designing the Next Generation of USA.GOV

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

From the Article:
This text report includes a five minute audio component. You can listen online or download as an MP3 file.

From the Article:

In recent years, the web portal, USA.GOV has become one of the most popular destinations in the federal government’s web presence. But now, the site’s managers are plotting the “next generation” of the site, at a time when social collaboration tools are reshaping the way that people use the World Wide Web.

David McClure, associate administrator with the Office of Citizen Services at General Services Administration, says the key is to re-think away from a mere “web portal” to a more up-to-date view of USA.GOV:

GSA is thought of as the execution arm of many policies that come out of government. (USA.GOV) is wildly successful. It’s one of the top 25 websites in the country. You can go this website, and citizens can find information about virtually everything in government. Over 100 million government webpages, searchable within 1/4 of a second. You’re looking at more than 15 million pageviews per month. This is an enoromous openness and transparency factor for government. We know that 40% of people who come to USA.GOV search for something. The strategy behind USA.GOV has been redirection, getting you where you want to go. I think we’re changing that, I think we want to move away from redirection to getting citizens to services and providing excellent service as soon as possible.

Source: Federal News Radio
Hat Tip: P.W.

New EIA (Energy Information Administration) Web Portal: Energy Explained

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Energy Explained
From e-mail:

Energy Explained , a new web portal launched today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), celebrates Energy Awareness Month with the most comprehensive energy education resource available from the U.S. Government.

The site explains where gasoline comes from, what determines the price of electricity, how much renewable energy the United States uses, and hundreds of other energy topics.

“Energy touches us in many ways every day, from the electricity that lights our homes to the fuel we use in our cars,” said EIA Administrator Richard Newell. “Energy Explained uses plain language and clear graphics to help explain a sometimes complex, but vital subject.”

Energy Explained allows easy navigation between major energy topics:

  • What Is Energy?
  • Use of Energy
  • Energy and the Environment
  • Nonrenewable Energy Sources
  • Renewable Energy Sources
  • Secondary Energy Sources

Source: Energy Information Administration

New Web Portal Serves as Collaborative Compilation of Broadband Programs

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

New Web Portal Serves as Collaborative Compilation of Broadband Programs

State utility regulators unveiled a new Web portal that will serve as an interactive compilation of State and federal programs dealing with broadband expansion and other advanced telecommunications services projects.

The Website—www.BroadbandBestPractices.org—is being developed by the State members of the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services. It is being maintained by the National Regulatory Research Institute, an independent research agency specializing in utility and regulatory practices. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners provided the site a financial grant to help in its development.

BroadbandBestPractices.org will provide a searchable reference guide to broadband expansion programs across the country. With nearly $7 billion in broadband funding opportunities available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Website will be a tool for State and federal policymakers, consumer advocates, industry officials, and the general public seeking to learn about different broadband programs and related information.

Users will be able to research different projects and add information about their own in a collaborative fashion.

Source: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

New Online: Citizenship Agency Launches Interactive Web Site

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

From the Article:

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a revamped Web portal that agency officials say is more user-friendly, interactive and informative than its predecessor.

The upgraded site allows applicants for citizenship and related benefits to follow the progress of their cases. They can choose to receive notifications through e-mail messages or text messages when the status of an application changes, the agency said.

The redesigned USCIS.gov has, for the first time, a Spanish language version. It also provides access to national trend data and raw data that can be used in additional applications.

Access the New U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web Site ||| Spanish Language Version

Note: News RSS Feed Available (Not Working at the Moment)

Source: FCW

DoD Launches New Web Portal

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

DoD Launches New Web Portal

The Department of Defense today launched a new home page, http://www.Defense.gov , designed to invite participation from the public and make military news and information more accessible. The new Web site will provide quick access to those sites that are most sought by Web site visitors, including DoD social media sites, the Pentagon Channel and DoD news stories.

Prominent on the new home page is a new “We Want to Hear From You” feature that will give users the opportunity to ask questions of Defense Department leaders, vote on policy issues they want explained, and explore frequently asked questions and answers. The new site, http://www.Defense.gov, replaces http://www.DefenseLink.mil as the department’s main Internet entry portal. DefenseLink will remain a news Web site and may be accessed from Defense.gov. Visit us online: http://www.defense.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense.

New Agriculture Resource: FAO Gateway to Farm Animal Welfare

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

From a UN Pulse Post:

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has introduced the Gateway to Farm Animal Welfare. According to the FAO news release, this new web portal is a “one-stop-shop for individuals and organizations searching for the latest information about the welfare of livestock.” It includes tools and links to find animal welfare legislation,research, standards, practices and policies.

Direct to New Web Portal

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (via UN Pulse)