Really interesting discussion on open data at The Big M. Missed getting down all the names of those taking aprt in the panel discussion. Some great points being made.
- Open data enables non-tech people to access data and use it
- The Doomsday book was written in an open data format ie Latin
- Following on from the last point – we will all die one day so we need to leave a usable – and non-proprietary – legacy
- Importance of standards in open data – we are all working in the same way
- Useful public sector data becoming available
- Public data = new business opportunities – £6bn mentioned (from a Cambridge University report)
- Transparency and accountability in public sector through open data
- Linkedgov is cleaning data – using many people to help wider society
- Technology is a key blocker to using data
- Institutional lethargy in opening up data to developers a real block too
- Data is seen as a 'techy thing' – somebody else's problem
- Need to shift organisation's view of who can help with this data – other orgs around the world, academic institutions etc
- But orgs do have to make a cultural shift regarding releasing data
- Lawyers are a huge problem – copyright, contracts, licenses for data use etc
- Its easier to ask forgiveness than it is for pernission regarding using content
- Fix my Street mentioned as a good example of opening up data
- BBC Backstage – very successful but has been shut down – its work had become embedded in the organisation
- Need a Creative Commons style of licensing for data
