Voice of the Editor
2016 Year of the Local
A new year means new priorities, new alignments and new concerns.
Here are a few thoughts for Surf City Strand resident's to consider in 2016.
Maximize Mobility. Mobile users--the majority of our population--expect information that serves the community. Our community information needs to render quickly and clearly with easy-to-use buttons and links that require the minimum number of clicks.
Free Wi-Fi Hot Spots. Our main public library and all branch locations should provide 24/7 high speed Wi-Fi access outside the buildings. Public assess shouldn't require our being inside the buildings during business hours.
The City and private enterprises should provide the community with free Wi-Fi Hot Spots at the Pier Visitors Kiosk, throughout our shopping Malls and Main Street shopping areas.
Synchronize Social Networks. Huge amounts of attention and time are being spent on social networks. The time has come for our community to synchronize these social networks with useful public information that brands our city and provides public information that is useful--not just commercial.
Emerging time-of-day, device, task and geography patterns should engage the community before commerce. Being more creative and generous with local residents isn't charity--it's good business too!
Let us know what we have missed, what needs to be brought into the light of collective understanding, investigated and discussed--it's your community. Be heard--your voice matters. Happy New Year!
--RA Monaco, Editor