Google Glass app for government waste

While the Illinois General Assembly debates outlawing the use of Google Glass while driving, others are creating innovative apps to fight government waste and corruption using Google’s groundbreaking new technology. Have you ever walked down the street, stared at a government building and wondered how much it costs to operate? Imagine eyeing the elegant copper...

While the Illinois General Assembly debates outlawing the use of Google Glass while driving, others are creating innovative apps to fight government waste and corruption using Google’s groundbreaking new technology.

Have you ever walked down the street, stared at a government building and wondered how much it costs to operate?

Imagine eyeing the elegant copper doors on the front of Springfield’s Capitol and seeing “$670,000” pop up in front of your eyes.

With a newly created Google Glass app by Red Edge, this is now reality. While wearing Google Glass, the app allows individuals to see public information about government properties – for instance, the cost to taxpayers – simply by looking at it.

Augmented Advocacy by Red Edge from Red Edge on Vimeo.

The new app, called Augmented Advocacy, would clearly display important information for users observing government properties. This type of innovation is an attempt to make government bodies more accountable and to aid in avoiding waste, fraud and corruption – with which Illinoisans’ are all too familiar.

All too often, important information about government operations is kept hidden from the public, making it impossible for the average citizen to become a watchdog. The Illinois Policy Institute is currently conducting audits on how transparent Illinois’ local governments are when it comes to posting important information on their public websites. Using our 10-Point Transparency Checklist, all 102 of Illinois’ counties were scored. The results were not great: counties scored an average of 32.8 out of 100 points. More than 20 counties did not have a website at all. The Institute has started to audit the top 100 municipalities as well.

Illinois doesn’t yet have the Red Edge app and not everyone has a pair of Google glasses – but there are measures that can be taken. There is legislation (which will be replacing House Bill 3312) being introduced to the Illinois General Assembly that would require local governments to display important information on contracts, employee compensation, contact information of officials and more relevant information. If Illinois is serious about fighting corruption, this legislation is a needed first step.