First U.S. technology officer will have hands full

President-elect Barack Obama's pledge to name the nation's first chief technology officer has triggered a flood of wishes, hopes and demands from tech enthusiasts who'd like the job to have the same stature and reach as, say, the White House national security adviser. The new officer should be an "Internet evangelist" involved in every practical and policy aspect of government, said Andrew Rasiej, a founder of two websites about politics and technology. "Technology is not a slice of the pie. It's the pan," he said. That's not quite how the Obama transition team defines the job on its website. The chief technology officer is to make sure federal computer networks are secure and agencies "use best-in-class technologies and share best practices." Transition spokesman Nick Shapiro hints at a bit more in the only statement the team will make on the record. "We have used technology to help run an historically innovative and open transition," he said. "The chief technology officer will help us continue to bring government into the 21st century."