TED Talks Daily What happens when a Silicon Valley technologist works for the government | Matt Cutts
Mar 9, 2020
Matt Cutts, a former Google engineer with 17 years of experience, shares his journey to the U.S. Digital Service. He discusses the stark contrast between Silicon Valley's innovation and the bureaucratic structure of government. Cutts emphasizes the importance of effective technology in enhancing public services, particularly for veterans. His compelling anecdotes highlight the impact of modernizing government systems and making technology accessible to improve citizens' lives. A fascinating look at how tech can transform public service!
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Trash Can Phone Stand
- Matt Cutts experienced a stark contrast in technological resources between Google and his government agency.
- He had to call someone to set up a conference call and used a trash can as a phone stand.
Paper vs. Digital
- Paper-based processes in government are slow, error-prone, and even led to veteran records being destroyed in a fire.
- Digitizing a veteran health benefits form reduced processing time from months to 10 minutes.
Cake Request
- After digitizing a Small Business Administration system, Cutts' team wanted to celebrate with a cake decorated with the digitized form.
- The grocery store required a letter on official government letterhead to fulfill the unusual request.