Gag me ... with an iPad

While we all must be grateful if we are fortunate enough to be stuffed from a gluttonous Thanksgiving feast, here is one that will put you over the edge as it is one bite too much to swallow.

I'm not talking about my famed Shoo-fly pie recipe either.  I'm referring to the latest fluff piece in the Key West Citizen regarding Judge Audlin's new tech initiative using an iPhone.  You can read it here!  Warning: Have barf bag conveniently available!

That just confirms for me the Citizen is a promotional arm of well connected people.

First, I'm sure all the wonderful things Judge Audlin is "tinkering" with could have been done years ago on a windows based laptop, of which I am sure he has access too.. if he wants.  But no, let's get a gadget for the Judges instead, not just iPhones, let's get them IPad's too.  See they want to use technology now.

Hey, I am an iPhone user myself, and in fact think they rule.  Users in the State Attorney's Office have had access to their email and calendar via iPhones since I came on board as their IT director in 2009.  But they could also use any smartphone, or computer with Internet access for that matter.  I know for a fact that even up to a few months ago, the courts were having a challenge getting a Mac to integrate with their email systems.


Beyond that, these gadgets don't necessarily integrate with other systems such as the Clerk's case management system, Odyssey.  But while Judge Audlin is climbing the ladder of technological advancement, maybe he can pursue some other "advancements."  For instance, he might try installing some AV equipment in his Courtrooms so that attorneys can play digital evidence, which occurs in almost every case at this point.  State Attorney staff is relegated to wheeling over AV equipment through a parking lot to play police in car videos.  I'm sure many jurors have watched SAO staff lumbering through with the AV cart as we all cram in the doorway waiting to get through the security screening.

Perhaps the Courts can start to stream court hearings on the web so the public can see how our Judges rule in hearings.  But noooooo, they are extremely opposed to that type of technology.  Or how about posting Court dockets on line in real time?  Over a year ago I illustrated how easily this could be done to Judge Fowler's judicial assistant, Kim Stover.  I'm sure she heard from the top, "Don't work with that mean ol' Matt Gardi."  So it went nowhere.

I can also speculate that these iGadgets are the reason why the Courts have finally come to the table to address our long standing request to install wireless Internet access in the Courtrooms.  You see, there isn't great cellphone coverage in the Key West Courthouse, and the iGadgets need to connect...so now the Courts want wireless coverage.  Of course that is why they have to procure it in such a wasteful manner (Read about it here), you see they don't just want wireless in the Courtrooms for everyone's use, they want it in every nick and cranny of the Courthouse so the Judge's can use their iGadgets throughout the building.  Purely speculation on my part of course...purely speculation.

Now onto the stuff that doesn't make us want to gag... 
clue number six of the Great Naked Conch Scavenger Hunt

Speak the truth to win the game
To a man who's not Elvis, but a King just the same.



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