Like most New Yorkers I am not generally impressed with the "work" of our senate. From a distance it seems like a labyrinthine and archaic behemoth cobbled together with parts that maybe used to serve some purpose but now mostly rattle loudly and emit steam. Given that I was quite surprised to find the NY Senate mobile app - as something useful and robust.

I've just downloaded it, given it a test spin - I look forward to really seeing what it can do longer term.

Mobile apps can be great, encouraging transparency and connection with elected officials but there is, of course, that whole thing about accessibility for whole segments of our population who lack the tools and/or who can't afford the technology.

And both this app and the Congress app by the Sunlight foundation package a lot of functionality and access into clean and easy to use interfaces that seem largely lacking on the web. I'm wondering if I've missed something? Is anyone out there working on simple clean interfaces to government and public data that lower the digital literacy bar? I'm thinking along the lines of kiosk type setups...?