Item - 2015.GM3.24

The Government Management Committee directed the City Clerk, in conjunction with the Chief Information Officer, to report to the May 11, 2015 meeting of the Government Management Committee on a suitable Board Book App which all Councillors can utilize in unison on their mobile devices while reading their various City of Toronto City Council agendas and Standing Committee agendas, such report to include anticipated start-up costs, as well as savings.

If residents want to find out about local schools or check recycling dates a lot of them now do it using their mobile phones. It's been estimated that there will be 30.9 million smartphone users in the UK this year, representing nearly half of all residents. In Canada 55% now own a smartphone.

Local government organizations are expected to tailor their services to suit these users. While mobile apps are the most obvious example of how organizations are responding to this demand, there is also the question of making sure your website is mobile friendly. It's also worth considering iPads and Notebooks, not to mention Notelets (across between a Notebook and a tablet).

Within the municipal government sector, however, there is no denying making sure public services and information can be delivered via a mobile in an accessible way – while keeping up with changes in technology – is a hard task. There are some great examples of innovation in this area which need to be examined.