I’m excited about the MBIT playbook – that’s about to be published. The folks in KC are doing all the leg work that we usually have to do ourselves! Thanks folks!
The two mayors of both Kansas Cities (Sly James and Joe Reardon) will both be in attendance and in what promises to be an exciting meeting – they’re all going to go over a draft of the “playbook” that has been the focus and direction of the MBIT – since Sept. 2011. This playbook will have over 20 different “plays” described and requested - ranging from simple software projects to complex, economic development efforts. Many of these plays cannot be done by just local government efforts; as huge healthcare, educational and business interests are intrinsic to each “play.”
The real question will be dealt with on Tuesday – “who’s going to pay for these efforts?” That’s what I wanna hear!
This kind of macro-economic, public policy guidance is what we at Digital City Mechanics – dream about! We imagine a future where enlightened leaders and politicians, work hand-in-hand with a wide range of constituencies, connecting government, business and citizens – together. Its the script from every politicians speech book – but how many times has this type of idealism – ever actually happened?
The challenge that the two mayors of the Kansas Cities face – is “how can we pull-off these plays?” Now that we’ve written them down, reduced them to RFPs and even assigned domain experts to each requested scenario – the devil is in the details. How can we make this all happen?
Just the notion that a playbook like this is needed – is a major policy statement. San Francisco and New York City have been making hay about their efforts and its easy enough for Kansas City – to do the same. But what KC has, that NYC and SF don’t – is Google.
All bets are off – all of a sudden we have a “Perfect Storm” moment. You combine the attitude that Kansas City is an “entrepreneurial town”, with the presence of the Kauffman Foundation, brands like H&R Block, Sprint and Cerner and some plain-old Mid-western work ethic and cleanliness – and you’ve got yourself a recipe for reBranding. A new global workforce, housed in the principles of authenticity, integrity and trust – is EXACTLY what the cyber world needs.
“All roads lead through Kansas City.” They’re not just flying over us – now.
Just when it got time to move outsourcing contracts from the mistake, ridden Indians, or design gigs from snobby NYers – in comes a whole new way of doing business – on-line. A whole new way of working. A whole new way of providing value – on an on-demand “basis” = completely virtually. And its coming from Kansas City!
I’d buy that!
So next week is a crucial juncture – a milestone in the reBranding of Kansas City.
I’ll be there – pitching “Digital City Kansas City” (“DCKC”) and asking for some of those projects to do some of the work necessary to combine technology and sociology – together. So imagine a Citizen’s Dashboard that utilizes iGoogle, Google Docs, YouTube, Hangouts and Maps – while also showing folks how to get benefits from PBworks, Prezi or Dropbox. We intend on making “community engagement” our magic sauce. We can setup, operate, train, maintain, upgrade and evolve local neighborhood projects where people – from THOSE communities – work FOR their community IN their community.
The trick is in combining budgets and agendi between different agencies, goals, milestones and efforts. We believe it all comes back to taking beginning level computer skills – and getting these folks trained at an intermediate or advanced level of “intangible” knowledge. The kind of knowledge you only get after DOING a unique job, set of tasks or profession.
There are 61 communities identified on the “GiveUsaGig” site – with names attached to each community. We’d like to start there and help create value and identify reasons why citizens should care – about Google coming to KC – with those specific people and communities. Creating video newsletters, maintaining local event calendars or providing tech support to beginning level users. Holding hands and showing people – specifically – why they should care about email, playlists or blogging.
There’s a business out there – out in the neighborhoods – showing folks how to geek out and act like “the rest of us” gifted, lucky, well-to-do educated types. Combine little bits of government support, across multiple domains – and there’s enough money there to kickstart a “digital economy ecosystem” and we hope to prove that – in the Kansas Cities.
We believe the digital divide has nothing to do with owning a laptop or having access to the net. We believe the digital divide is about getting people comfortable using computers and on-line technology to get value – and make a living – off the web. Bridge that gap and we’re starting to create a LOT of jobs – for normal people.
That’s how we intend of bootstrapping DCKC – and how we’ll:
- establish our local cred and rep
- build our local subsidiary
- and hopefully – earn trust
By implementing some of these requested plays and taking macro-economic principles and applying them on the micro-economic level in the Kansas Cities.
All the almost impossible work has been done for us! The politicians are all saying the right things, business leaders and educators are saying they want it. Huge corporations and Foundations are supporting it.
And the KC Chamber of Commerce is polishing itself up and welcoming guys like me – in.
We’re working in a space where we take technology and apply it to people. We don’t necessarily make all this technology (Google Docs, PBWorks, Prezi) but we will create our own “dashboard” platform that we can call our own. We consider our magic sauce in figuring out exactly how to get local folks included, caring and contributing to their neighborhood’s “cyber presence.” This kind of community activism and collaboration is the kind of thing that “hyper-local” models have been salivating over – for years.
Mobile apps have shown that if you apply media, text or interactive gesture to a real world scenarios and context – that the magic happens. Here are a bunch of those scenarios – as I imagined them in 2002 – while living at the Golden Gate apartments on SF’s Embarcadaro – staring at the Bay Bridge.
Th idea is that we could offer a whole bunch of these kinds of experiences, and each experience would open up to reveal an ecosystem of vendors, curators, concierge services, developers, designers and other creative staff – who would then (after you’ve configured your experience, and recruited your talent) would then go on to produce an amazing, real-time, global on-line environment – all maintained and updated by highly specialized “agents” who knew just ‘how you like it.”
What’s missing from this chart? SMART JOB CREATION! Indeed the market that we’re focused on is predicted to be a $1T market by 2016 – but they don’t seem to think that creating jobs is important! Education, government, business, creativity, health – all working together – leads to job creation. IMHO
The Digital City ["insert your city or region here"] pilot project would create and maintain a series of “New Economy Apprenticeships” which would lead to a “digital economy ecosystem” in ["insert your city or region here"]. This pilot project would implement a new kind of workforce training methodology which would tie intermediate and advanced training to new economy apprenticeships, project participation and job creation.
Interns would be put to work on one-off and on-going projects, which would be paid for by local “socially conscious” sponsorships. Entrepreneurial activities, an on-line marketplace and a video business directory would all help support and nurture this “ecosystem effect.” The measurable results of the pilot project would be to prove that by breaking down the silos and connecting various government and business efforts together – an integrated ecosystem effect can be kickstarted which would lead to a sustainable engine that creates on-line jobs. This ecosystem would sit on top of an open software platform and become a on-going means of on-line job creation.
The focus of the pilot would be on creating on-line jobs and teaching trainees the skills necessary to exist in a global marketplace of project based on-line workers. Individuals entrepreneurism, rather than company based – will be the emphasis of this project. The ["insert your city or region here"] training system would pick up where beginning computer skills classes leave off; placing trainees and interns into active projects, paired up with professionals and college educated workers.
These project teams would then produce work-for-hire sponsored projects, ranging from mobile and PC based content to educational software, visualizations and simulations. Sponsored viral marketing campaigns (via custom produced games and apps) would focus on Barbados history, culture and people. On-line startups and entrepreneurial activities would be supported by the pilot project, as well as a wide range of community engagement. By directly showing community members and organizations the benefits and rewards possible by utilizing on-line social media based tools, marketing campaigns and blogging – we hope to build trust in these local communities and bridge the disconnect between government/business and citizens.
The ["insert your city or region here"] pilot project would fund one year of training, internships and an underlying open software ‘platform.’ This software ‘portal’ would enable training to happen in a classroom, or virtually anywhere in ["insert your city or region here"] – with an Internet connection and PC/laptop. Flexible training techniques, experiential learning and extensive usage of multimedia (videos, photos and interactive games or mobile applications) would be combined together into an integrated approach to job creation.
The software platform would feature assignments, curriculum, an on-line marketplace and business directory and real-time video help desk – which would be manned by professionals, interns and volunteers. On-going programs, one-off projects and web services would be offered to a wide range of trainees – ranging from youth, ‘Baby Boomers’ and Moms returning to work to re-entry and welfare populations. Returning vets and currently under-employed workers would also participate – but only those who are the “best and brightest” – willing to make the entrepreneurial sacrifice of sweat equity – to learn a new way of doing business.
Volunteerism, mentoring and community engagement would all be taught as an effective means of job creation. Community newsletters and media channels would be produced and utilized to provide interns real-world skills which could be applied to a wide range of online marketing techniques and professions. The idea is to get the “Haves” to help the “Have Nots.”
The ultimate goal of the DCB Pilot project to have individual and community organizations reap the benefits of on-line technology (beyond what is possible by simply using MS Office.) The synergistic effect of combining education, business and government efforts together will create a cyber workforce (made up of both individuals and companies) ready to do business around the world – virtually via the Internet.
Just finishing up a fantastic week here in Kansas City. These folks have done all the preliminary legwork for us! Details to follow. Oh and BTW Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Aaron Deacon reported on the recent CityCampKC event on Saturday – which I attended and spoke at – as well.
Aaron Deacon was exposed to the various other efforts of other cities attempting to take advantage of broadband infrastructure being built. Aaron attended the Broadband FTTH Council meeting - and he actually reported on people from Cleveland attending!
Rachel Hack (of Google) is asking for any events or activities between now and the EOY – so that Google knows what’s going on. She is completely noncommittal in terms of when their Fiber service will be available.
The focus is now on the MBIT “playbook” project – which hopefully will be published by the end of the month (May 2012.)
Mike Burke is talking about “Not so much about technology, but about sociology.” Now he’s talking about a potential leadership role that Kansas City has – on the global stage. And the availability of “resources.”
Then Mike is describing their interpretation of the “ecosystem” effect they wish to see happen – applied to several specific initiatives. David Sandel elucidates further what an ecosystem is – and how through cooperation, sharing resources, identifying key sectors and measurable metrics are key factors to successful ecosystems!
Building communities is the next subject, and making sure that all efforts help bridge the “digital divide.” Its also wonderful to hear these folks talk about global leadership and the worldwide ramifications of what the world expects from Kansas City.
Redefining the Kansas City and driving innovation and entrepreneurism seems to be an underlying theme. Breaking down silos and linking to people – in new ways – is also recognized as a key, underlying responsibility and set of goals. Arts, healthcare, citizen engagement, entrepreneurism and ultimately – rebranding the Kansas Cities – is all in focus.
Organizing leadership, and details on how to implement leadership – also seem to be of concern. Following up – after the playbook is delivered – is the first focus. Focused leadership to drive the agenda.
It seems that identifying sustainable models to help fund “driving” the efforts was broached.
Ray Daniels is pointing out that download speeds – has nothing to do with this – but in “what you do WITH the bandwidth!”
Looking for differentiation – on what sets Kansas City apart – from the rest of the world.
Recognition that implementation is hard.
Economics are coming out of silos.
How will leadership evolve?
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Then the meeting went over 20 “plays” – which are pro-active approvals for both pilot, early stage and long term projects. They want measurable metrics and details – fore each project.
1. Global Telepresence roundtables - talk about Cisco-level discussions. David Sandel,
2. Digital Inclusion Pilot - neighborhood committee – bring bandwidth into “context” – community outreach, tech literacy. Is that a strategy or a core value?
3. Proof-of-concept and Fabrication Lab- of what?
4. Whiteboard to Boardroom - entrepreurism – tech transfer out of Universities
5. High-impact art installations - also see #19 – leverage global arts festival
6. Innovation in government - some of this was alluded to at the CityCampKC event. They had a Hackathon where they started three apps to help bike riders and walkers in KC.
7. IT workforce development - there’s a $5M grant available to help train local KCers – for the IT industry
8. Innovation Hub/Tech district – sounds great. In the Crossroads area?
9. K-12 Classroom demos – sounds great!
10. Pre-K-12 teacher coaching demos- sounds great
11. University Research Capacity – connect collaborative efforts and various inter-institutional cooperation
12. Medical reimbursement for Telemedicine - good luck!
13. House of the Future - can anyone spell “Google time?”
14. Data Center support - not sure what they hope to achieve here
15. Marketing the KC region – “All roads lead through Kansas City”
17. Gaming - (and I don’t think they mean Casinos)
18. Mesh Wifi Networks - all these projects seem really separate and not integrated into any sort of comprehensive strategy or – even - “playbook!” How’s the Peyton Manning of Broadband supposed to win the game?
19. Broadband Global Arts Festival- these are the kinds of activities REALLY help establish a brand and global awareness!
20. IT-related conventions and meetings - nice! CityCampKC was told they’d have to pay $12k for Internet access at local hotel!
21. Develop a master calendar applications- I’ll try and get them to ALSO include a master biz directory and master marketplace and master timeline of community history. Unfortunately some folks seem to think this is a revenue generating opportunity! NO!
22. Capital formation - i.e. investment require viable, scalable businesses. The belief i that there will be huge opportunities for KC to get funding – coming from their “test tube” scenario.
================Left out plays===================
23. Healthcare related activities - missing from the master list
24. Neighborhood community – also missing
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Mayor Reardon comments: “OK 3rd graders, take out your iPads for your next assignment”
MS SkyDrive APIs – bring your data to any app, any platform, any device. Once again Dare Obasanjo and his team at MS are architecting their web services – the right way. I wish others would copy and at least pay attention to what they’re doing. They’re supporting the notion of the open web – for years. Their biggest challenge is getting THEIR OWN COMPANY to pay attention to their principles and tech.
Indeed H&R Block missed the Digital boat and is now playing catchup. Perhaps we can come up with some “socially conscious” programs and projects to help them do that? In Kansas City. To make real change, build REAL credibility and trust – you HAVE to do things differently. Just putting out “TurboTax” clone software ain’t gonna cut it.
Cities are doing 0 whatever they can – to entice small businesses to move into the urban, downtown area. Its called the ‘startup scene’. 
DIY cell phone
