Capitol Ideas: Yes, we do have an app for that

DES MOINES - The frequently heard slogan of the digital age - 'There's an app for that” - may not necessarily be the case in Iowa state government.

State governments typically lag behind the private sector, the federal government and even many cities in adopting new technology, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Although the number of state government apps has more tripled in the past two years to 320, that number seems surprisingly low when compared to the number of, say, music-related apps.

Iowa state government has a handful of apps that let citizens connect with the bureaucracy from their smartphones. For example, the Department of Natural Resources offers a state parks guide - Happy and Healthy Outdoors or H2O that allows Iowans to find more than 30 types of outdoor activities at more than 1,600 state and county parks and recreation areas.

There's also an app from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship that allows users to find local farmers markets. Users can read others' reviews or post their own. There are versions for android devices and Apple devices.

Many people may be familiar with the Iowa Department of Transportation's 511 app for Apple and android devices. The DOT also offers an app for preparing for a driver's license exam. the app offers randomly generated questions from the real driver's license test and is available for Apple, android and Kindle Fire.

The Iowa DOT has announced a mobile app that will allow drivers to use their smartphones as their driver's license. It plans to roll out that app later this year.

Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie recently spoke to legislators about plans for a cultural affairs app that would include arts and entertainment activities as well as a guide to historic sites, theaters, museums and more.

In addition to apps for hunting and fishing licenses, driver's license handbooks and renewing licenses and plates, some states are offering more sophisticated apps. California, for example, offers an app for designated drivers that includes a list of bars and restaurants that have food and drink deals for sober drivers.

Additionally, many legislatures have apps that allow citizens to track legislations, see committee schedules and even watch floor debates. The Nevada Supreme Court has an app so the public can search case and see briefs, filings and opinions.

Robert von Wolffradt, Iowa's chief information officer since May 2012, is planning more ways for Iowans to connect with their state government later this year. The project, which carries the 'long conceptual” title of 'Public Communications for Online Versus In-line Citizen Services,” will be launched later this year.

'We see this as a big need to help identify services and apps that can expedite dealing with anything in state government,” Wolffradt said this past week. 'The real important part is to leverage responsive design on all of our websites - which really makes them become what we call ‘apps' today without the ‘app' overhead.”

An example, he said, is the DOT's app.

The goal is to make it possible for the mobile user to interact through the phone in a seamless way, Wolffradt said.

'So we have two priorities - responsive design for all websites and providing a high level of easy interaction for mobile users,” he said in an email.

Iowa has some distance to go, Wolffradt said. Visitors to the state's homepage (http://www.iowa.gov) will see banners links to more than 80 online services.

He wants the homepage to include an 'app splash page that reflects all of the apps as well as a better online services page.”