June 10, 1997
Inclusion in permanent research collection of information technology users who create positive social change A place in history for innovative electronic reporting system for exports developed by Federal Agencies
The Automated Export System (AES), a voluntary electronic export reporting program developed jointly by the U.S. Customs Service, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau, and Bureau of Export Administration, the State Department, and other Federal agencies, will become part of the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection of Information Technology Innovation at the National Museum of American History on June 10, 1997, when the 1997 Collection is formally presented to the Institution in Washington, D.C.
Designed to increase the competitiveness of American companies in the global marketplace and accelerate the availability of export statistics, AES is one of 321 innovative information technology applications from 39 states and 21 countries to be nominated by the Computerworld Smithsonian Chairmen's Committee for inclusion in the Smithsonian's 1997 National IT Innovation Collection. The collection is housed at the National Museum of American History in downtown Washington, D.C.
"The Automated Export System is using information technology to create strides toward remarkable social improvement in government and the nonprofit world," said Dr. David Allison, chairman of the National Museum of American History's Division of Information Technology and Society. "We are delighted to have this excellent example of how information technology is being used to improve our world included in the national collection."
Each year, the Computerworld Smithsonian Chairmen's Committee nominates individuals who are using information technology to improve society for inclusion in the Collection. Founded in 1989, the Computerworld Smithsonian's program searches for and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated vision and leadership as they strive to use information technology in innovative ways.
Founded in 1846, The Smithsonian Institution is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The materials submitted in the Government & Non-Profit Organizations category on behalf of the AES Team will enrich the Smithsonian's growing permanent collection on the information Age, one of the most important of its kind in the world.
The Collection serves a critical historical purpose by helping the National Museum of American History record the information technology revolution and the impact it has on the lives. As part of the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Collection, AES becomes a part of a national treasure which documents how information technology is being used to shape society and improve our world.
The 1997 collection will join over 2,000 other examples of innovative use of information technology, available to citizens, scholars and researchers worldwide. Case studies will be made available to the public on June 9 on the Innovation Network web site at http://innovate.si.edu.
Contact IT Innovation Collection Office 617-478-2704 for more information.
