"IS" Becomes "IT"

In an all-hands staff meeting this afternoon, CIO David Runt announced that, effective immediately, the "Information Systems" business unit will be officially known as "Information Technology".

This change is part of a broader reorganization that will be occurring in the IT department over the coming months, but the rebranding also reflects Mr. Runt's desire to emphasize the full range of professional services provided by our department.

I'd say, "New name, same great service," but the reorg, combined with our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, is intended to enhance both IT performance and customer satisfaction.

Contra Costa Health Services Information Technology, at your service!

Microsoft and Google Unveil "Community Health Mapping" Applications

Coinciding with Wednesday's launch of the Community Health Data Initiative (aimed at leveraging community health information to spur the development of new applications that could improve health care), both Google and Microsoft announced new health mapping applications.

Microsoft is releasing Bing Health Maps, using community health data from the Health & Human Services (HHS) department to help consumers compare Medicare costs by region. It provides access to national or county-specific information on topics like births, deaths, and health risk factors.

Google is rolling out Google Fusion Tables, which is a database service intended to help patients compare and share data on communities, hospitals, and nursing homes. Consumers can use the application to create custom maps highlighting data of interest.

The Future of the User Interface?

Did you see Minority Report, the Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Cruise (based on a short story by Philip K. Dick)?

The film features a futuristic computer user interface (UI) that intrigued viewers and suggested an entirely new way of interacting with computing devices. The story was set in 2054, but it turns out that the future is almost here.... See the film's science advisor, inventor John Underkoffler, present the current state of the art in a TED Talk posted on the I.S. homepage in iSITE.