In 2009, as Barack Obama was taking office, I wrote a Top 10 list of things he should do with technology. Now, on the day of his second inauguration, I wanted to take a retrospective look at my old predictions and add some new ones for the next four years.
Not many folks like to look back and see how their prognostications fared (take note of the ensuing blank stare on the face of any technology analyst you ask). But I’m going for it… with tongue firmly in cheek.
The original predictions are followed by new predictions for Obama’s new term… and as before, no wagering, please.
10. U.S. Government operations visibility tool for the newly appointed Chief Performance Officer cabinet post
This prediction didn’t pan out as there is still no CPO cabinet post. In 2013, this should morph into Citizen Experience Officer so Washington gets direct feedback into what the average citizen experiences when dealing with Government agencies or officials.
For job requirements, the new C.E.O. must utilize Medicare for healthcare and contribute to, and depend on Social Security for retirement. Increasingly, there is a precedent – many businesses are using Customer Experience Management implementations with success, so why not try it in Government?
9. A new Presidential dashboard with real power
Obama’s campaign understood the power of Real Time, Social Media and using innovative technology to influence voters, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they would be very interested in a new event-driven government operations dashboard, and make it available as an App, of course. The new one just needs to add a <drone alert> and @N. Korea <del> function.
8. Another reason to stick with his Blackberry – TIBCO CEP product BusinessEvents creates Blackberry alerts.
My, how time has flown in only four years. Eh, let’s make that Apple / Android phone alerts for BOTH his iOS and Android phones. Obama’s gotta stay PC on that one.
7. Predict what Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will say and do next.
While written as humor in 2009, things have certainly changed for Mr. Chavez these last few years.
Perhaps Analytics technology will contribute to pharma companies’ discovering new cancer therapies in the coming four years? We can only hope.
6. Choose the new Presidential dog based on historical breed information correlated with new puppy attributes and real-time events.
My prediction was right on the money as the dog thing has worked out for the Obama family – so the polls say. Bo has the highest approval rating of any presidential canine in history. Well, since Checkers at least.
So what’s next? Um, here goes. TIBCO software will be used to help choose a new Presidential cat that gets along with chosen dog “Bo.” With TIBCO technology, anything is possible. How do you think the “fiscal cliff” thing with Boehner was resolved? That’s right, TIBCO software made that happen.
5. Automatically rebalance his personal 401K before Bernanke announces FED rate changes.
Automatically raise debt ceiling and remotely activate mint presses before congress announces filibuster.
4. New Affinity rewards program for frequent taxpayers.
New prediction – A shiny new taxpayer rewards program for the 47%. You get double points and a new piggy bank made in the Caribbean if you make over $400,000 per family. And for the 53%, a free iPhone case made in China and a $5 Starbucks card if you pay more than $1.
3. Make sure nobody plays the overnight commodities market with the bailout money float.
Make sure everybody paid back the bailout money (with interest). Uh huh. Maybe this could be a long range goal that could eventually happen, say, in 2113.
2. Keep an eye on Hillary. As an added bonus, Hillary can keep an eye on Bill.
As Obama’s precious daughters are now in their teens, perhaps a better use might be to keep an eye on the precocious teenage boys at his daughters’ school.
And the number 1 reason: OBAMA – as in Business Activity Monitoring
Don’t get it? Join the crowd. Just goes to show the shelf life of the three-letter tech acronym these days. As BAM for Business Activity Monitoring has faded into obscurity, nobody gets the joke anymore.
Let’s just say that OBAMA is a now famous acronym that stands for Object-Based Active Messaging Alerts and call it a day.
That’s what I think, anyway. How about you? Let us know.
