Obama, staffers maintain tech-savvy rep

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The election of Barack Obama was accomplished by a number of factors, including the use of technology. Now that Obama has taken office, the way in which texts, e-mails and web sites will play a role in his presidency has already been set into motion.

The headline: "Geek in Chief" is a term of endearment from folks like Richard Edwards, assistant professor at IU's School of Informatics. He's still in awe at what the Obama campaign was able to pull together with technology.

"Right from the beginning of his announcement in Springfield in 2007, they worked as hard to put together the grassroots network on the ground as they did to put together an electronic network online," said Edwards.

The campaign did it through e-mail, texting and social networking web sites like Facebook. They did it so well that the business world is trying to learn from them. MediaSauce, a marketing-through-technology company in Carmel, created presentations on just how the campaign got it done.

As Edwards observed, the Obama administration didn't waste any time in showing that they'll continue their web-savvy ways.

"I was very impressed that, on inauguration day, literally at 12:01, the ( whitehouse.gov) web site switched over instantaneously and it was full makeover," said Edwards. "(The web site) has an active blog, it has additional tools for citizens to be able to participate in government."

Edwards expects more e-mail appeals for participation. One was sent several weeks ago to registered supporters. It included a plea for support from Michelle Obama.

However, Edwards said there could be downsides to the technology push.

"If individuals start to feel that's it's more for show than for active engagement, then people could get turned off," said Edwards.

According to a report in the Washington Post Thursday, the high-tech administration may have hit a glitch. As staff moved into offices in the White House they found phone lines disconnected, old computer software and the inability to use outside e-mail accounts. One staffer referred to it as going from an Xbox back to an Atari.