Bizzuka is pleased to be chosen as the developer of Lafayette Consolidated Government's first Google Gadget.

A Google Gadget is a "widget" anyone can add to their iGoogle home page.

The Google Gadget shows traffic cameras and 911 working accidents and alerts in real-time.

While other cities have Gadgets showing traffic cameras, it is believed this is the first and only one to include working accidents, fires and other public alerts. 

LCG Chief Information Officer Keith Thibodaux states his intention is to explore ways local government can tap into utilizing Google and smart phone applications.

"We're adding on to our philosophy," Thibodaux says. "We're going to put out other gadgets. Now that we have kind of the framework built it gets a lot easier. we're going to certainly do iPhone and Blackberry applications and I'm pretty sure we're going to do something on Facebook. Our goal is to find where people are and push information to them."

The cameras viewing software is the brain child of LCG traffic engineer Warren Abadie. Chad Istre, LCG's Webmaster, worked with use to take the idea and produce the gadget with a very limited budget.

If you are a citizen of Lafayette Parish, click here to get the Gadget for your iGoogle home page.