E-Government:Are There Any Solutions That Are

Affordable and Easy?

Presentation to GBET Conference- 2003

What is E-Government?

E-government is the use of information technology to: • Support government operations

• Engage citizens

• Provide government services

According to the Center for Technology in Government

What is E-Government?

Four dimensions reflect the functions of government itself: • E-services

• E-management

• E-democracy

• E-commerce

We’ll focus on the first three.

What is E-Government?

E-services is the electronic delivery of government information, programs and services often (but not exclusively) over the Internet.

What is E-Government?

E-management is the use of information technology to improve the management of government• Streamlining business processes

• Improving the flow of information within government offices

• Enabling enhanced responsiveness to stakeholders

What is E-Government?

E-democracy is the use of electronic communication vehicles, (such as e-mail and the Internet), to increase citizen participation in the public decision making process.

Bottom-Line, It’s About Increasing Efficiency and Responsiveness

Elected Officials• Seeking to enhance responsiveness and service to

constituentsManagers and Staff

• Seeking ways to reduce costs, while meeting the needs of elected officials and the public.

• Looking to be more efficient to meet increasing levels of work and understaffing.

IT• Providing affordable & reliable technology to help Elected

Officials, Managers and Staff accomplish their goals.

What Does E-Government Require?

Don’t most initiatives require a major investment of capital resources, operating budget, time and people?

What Does E-Government Require?

Don’t most initiatives require a major investment of capital resources, operating budget, time and people?

Yes…but not all!

MeetingPro Is An Affordable Solution.

MeetingPro digital recording software from SoniClear is a software solution that supports E-Government…with • NO major capital expenditures

• NO incremental operating costs

• NO increases in staff

• NO major project initiatives

MeetingPro Delivers E-Government Benefits

MeetingPro digital recording software is an easy-to-use program for Windows-based desktops and laptops, that enables you to:• Record public meeting audio in identifiable segments

• Take meeting notes that refer to specific audio

• More easily transcribe meeting minutes

• Archive recorded meeting audio for future reference

• Retrieve specific information easily and quickly

• Post meeting audio for citizen accessibility

MeetingPro Supports E-services

MeetingPro enables efficient recording, storage, retrieval and delivery of public meeting audio with annotated notes - to constituents, staff and elected officials, using the web, e-mail, CDROM or other forms of electronic transmission

MeetingPro Supports E-management

MeetingPro improves the management of government by using electronic processes to: • Streamline the process of recording, archiving and

retrieving meeting proceedings

• Improve the flow of specific meeting information among citizens, staff and elected officials.

• Enhance stakeholder responsiveness through improved access to meeting info.

MeetingPro Supports E-democracy

MeetingPro supports greater participation in the public decision making process by making desired information from public meetings easier for citizens to access using electronic communication.

What About Tangible Benefits?

How does MeetingPro

move from high-level support of E-Government,

to delivery of practical, tangible benefits?

Enhance access to meeting proceedings for staff, officials,

and constituentsRetrieve information for staff quickly and easily

• Archived recordings available electronically on MP3 files for ease of access and usage

• Action item referral and research across departments

• Litigation research

Enhance public access and constituent service• Post meeting audio and notes on website

• Enable citizens to access what they need

• Transmit information electronically

Enhance accuracy and time savings

• Produce more accurate meeting minutes• Quickly review audio from specific meeting segments

• Make necessary transcriptions more accurately

• Reduce time to produce minutes• Access to specific passages much faster than analog or

DAT tape

• Reduces need for detailed transcription of dialogue

Reduce costs and redirect resources

• Reduce staff costs for producing minutes• Up to 2.5 hours for each meeting

• Annual savings of $5K per clerk.

• Save dollars spent of recording media• Reduce/eliminate duplication costs• Save storage space and associated cost

In a world of budget constraints, these savings can be redirected to more pressing needs.

MeetingPro Hardware Requirements

• Desktop or Laptop computer• 200Mhz or higher

• Built-in sound card.

• Windows OS (98/ME/NT/2000/XP)• Sound Source

• Computer-compatible mic.

• Connection to sound system.

MeetingPro Key Features

• Simple user interface that’s easy to learn.• Digitally records audio to disk (158 mb/hour).• VoiceBoost signal enhancement.• Enables note taking before, during or after

meeting.• Archive on LAN server or CDROM.• Post recordings on website in MP3 format.

Simple Interface:

One Click File Management

Simple record and playback controls

Prepare agenda items in advance of meeting

One click to record notes from agenda or predefined notes.

Edit notes during a meeting

List of notes with timestamps form a table of contents

Powerful Notetaking Features

• Transfer agenda to notes interface prior to meeting.

• Save and load agendas as templates.• Add, edit or delete notes at anytime.• Click one button or press one key to add

agenda item to notes.• Nine additional predefined notes can be added

with one click.

MeetingPro Sharing Features

• Archive meetings on LAN for group retrieval.• Archive on CDROM for permanent storage.• Duplicate recordings on CDROM for public.• Convert to MP3 format for portable playback.• Post MP3 meeting file to website for remote

access.

MeetingPro 4 Beta New features are available now for evaluation• Publish meetings on CDROM and LAN

• SoniClear software not required for playback

• Includes notes for direct access to meeting segments

• Play recordings anywhere

• Webcast meetings with notes• Post to any website, no streaming server required.

• Works with any computer (Windows, Mac, Unix)

• Requires only Flash MX plug-in, trouble-free install.

• Footpedal support for dialogue transcription.

MeetingPro Pilot Projects

MeetingPro digital recording software has been successfully piloted by large and small city governments• City of Los Angeles - Information Technology Agency

and Burglar Alarm Task Force

• City of La Canada Flintridge,.CA - City Clerk and Council

Pilot Projects Using MeetingPro

City of Los Angeles -Burglar Alarm Task Force Meeting Webcasts“MeetingPro provided an excellent way for our Burglar

Alarm Task Force to use the web to keep citizens informed about these important meetings.”

Clifford Eng, Assistant General ManagerInformation Technology AgencyCity of Los Angeles

Pilot Projects Using MeetingPro

La Cañada Flintridge, CA City Council

“MeetingPro has made it much easier to produce accurate minutes of discussions from our City Council meetings. I love it!”

Marjorie Wahlsten, ClerkCity of La Cañada Flintridge, CA

We Have A Successful Track Record In Software Development & Audio

SystemsTrio Systems LLC

• 25 years in PC software business• 4 years developing audio recording software

SoniClear Studio• For Web Developers

Panagram.com Internet Radio System• Best of Show - Internet World Spring 2000

Getting Started No-Risk Pilot Project Using MeetingPro3.• Request a 30-Day Evaluation Copy (CD or

SoniClear.com download).• Install on your computers (support provided by

SoniClear if needed)• Demonstrate benefits and expand.

Getting Started No-Risk MeetingPro 4 Beta Evaluation.• Request beta test for your organization.• Set beta parameters.• Download from SoniClear.com (support provided

by SoniClear as needed).• Demonstrate benefits, review results with

SoniClear and expand.

MeetingPro Digital Recording Software From SoniClear

Visit us at Booth 330 to discuss how we can help you implement this affordable solution for your

internal clients.

Question and Answer Session