Tell the federal government what mobile apps it should make

Consumer Reports News: August 17, 2011 04:08 PM

Find Ratings

Computers

For the next few weeks you can tell the U.S. government what apps or other mobile products you think government agencies should be creating. The deadline to submit ideas is September 15.

Currently, there are more than 50 free apps and mobile websites at the USA.gov mobile apps gallery. There's an app to find out how long the security line is at the airport or to see if your child's new toy has been recalled.

Some examples of existing government apps:

The FBI Child ID app allows users to store photos and other vital information about a child so it can be found easily if your child goes missing.
The USA JOBS iPhone app, lets you search all types of federal government job openings available across the country.
The My Food-a-pedia app breaks down food items by total calories, food groups, and other extra calories added from fat and sugar.

You can share your ideas, and read other people's creative ideas for new government apps here. A couple of suggestions recently posted include an app that shows where the Louis and Clark Trail is in relation to a person's present location, or an app for short, simplified explanations of the bills representatives are voting on that day.

So what mobile apps should the government create?

USA.gov Mobile Apps [USA.gov]

—Maggie Shader