Can Open Data Save The Public Realm
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This document discusses how open data could help save the public realm from becoming less powerful and irrelevant compared to private networks like Facebook and Tesco. It argues that open data can [1] open up the "black box" of government processes, [2] encourage complex networks of citizens and organizations to get involved instead of top-down hierarchies, and [3] make government more accountable. However, it also notes that open data is not a "silver bullet" and does not address issues like geography and physical infrastructure needs. The overall message is that open data gives the public sector a chance to stay relevant by becoming more open and networked rather than closed off and isolated.
Can Open Data Save The Public Realm
- 1. Can open data save the public realm?
- 2. Chris Taggart • Developer of OpenlyLocal, opening up local government information (whether they like it or not) • Developer of OpenCharities, an open version of the Register of Charities • Member of Local Public Data Panel • Member of London Digital Advisory Board 2
- 3. Emer Coleman • Director of Digital Projects Greater London Authority • London Datastore • TFL data • WIFI London • Crime & Health data next 3
- 4. Can open data save the public realm?
- 5. No
- 6. No The End
- 7. Can open data help save the public realm?
- 8. Can open data help save the public realm? aka: opening up the black box of government to keep it relevant
- 9. What’s the problem with government? 7
- 10. http://goldberg.berkeley.edu/art/big-images/ It’s a black box. You can't see the workings, still less understand them
- 11. It cares about process. People care about results
- 12. It's a complex system that’s failing under today’s demands http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielproulx/3594842434/
- 13. It’s obsessed with ‘scoping’ everything out, resulting in inflexible, unsuitable, unexplainable & unworkable plans
- 14. It doesn’t understand failure
- 15. It doesn’t understand failure 2. 8m £ But failure is how things evolve
- 16. Always looking for the silver bullet (but there are no silver bullets) http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4160817135/
- 17. But the problem for the future is...
- 18. But the problem for the future is... Government is becoming less powerful, less relevant
- 19. But the problem for the future is... Government is becoming less powerful, less relevant and with it the public sector
- 20. Facebook vs the British govt Who has more power? 15
- 21. Tesco vs any council: who decides whether a new store should be built 16
- 22. BP vs Rest of the World In which country is it really based?
- 23. How do you get things improved? The ‘proper channels’ vs Twitter/Facebook/ hyperlocal blog 18
- 24. So what’s it really all about...
- 25. So what’s it really all about... It's the network, stupid
- 26. So what’s it really all about... It's the network, stupid It always has been
- 31. The network now
- 34. 27 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdlasica/506378526
- 35. What defines their network?
- 36. Slow
- 37. Closed
- 38. Has difficulty evolving http://www.flickr.com/photos/86624586@N00/112835575/sizes/l/in/photostream/
- 39. Predicated on scarcity of connections 32
- 40. Geographically rooted 33
- 41. ...and our network? 34
- 42. Fast 35 http://www.flickr.com/photos/shindotv/2550829907/sizes/l/in/photostream/
- 43. Promiscuous 36 http://www.flickr.com/photos/pokpok/114311823/
- 44. Next to zero cost of connecting 37 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimpurbrick/1287419645
- 45. http://images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-2397881577-original.jpg formed in a second, critical mass in a day
- 46. But...
- 47. ...geography still matters http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/3338803775/lightbox/
- 48. ...and who will clean our streets in the Facebook world http://www.flickr.com/photos/brabantbekijken/3838710109
- 49. ..and how will we have a say in how it’s done http://www.flickr.com/photos/grievousangel/140482370/size 42
- 50. ...and who would bother to vote for something that is powerless and irrelevant 43
- 51. ...and by the way, outsourcing services is currently just a black box talking to other black boxes Government Mega Big Monolithic Service Co Solutions Co Processes Co
- 52. so... Open data
- 53. opens up the box and in the process... http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcarlbom/4381005273/
- 54. ...allows rich, complex connections, approaches Opposite to one size fits all
- 55. through, learning from both ...allows failures & successes to shine Original photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/2742566760/sizes/o/in/photostream/
- 56. ...encourages complex dynamic networks, not sterile hierarchical organisations
- 57. ...encourages complex dynamic networks, not sterile hierarchical organisations
- 58. Has the potential to make it trivially easy to get involved aka Big Society™
- 59. Makes government accountable and makes all of us responsible
- 60. So, open data is a silver bullet http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4160817135/
- 61. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4160817135/ So, open data is a silver bullet WRONG! There are no silver bullets
- 62. But it does give the public realm a chance to stay relevant
- 63. In brief • the rewards of failure • there are no silver bullets • open data is not just about data • government as a platform vs government as an irrelevance
Editor's Notes
- #2: [Holding slide]
- #3: Chris
- #4: Emer
- #5: Chris: This is the question for today.
- #6: Emer
- #7: Chris: So let’s try something a bit more achievable
- #8: Emer
- #9: Chris
- #10: Emer
- #11: Chris
- #12: Chris: a project that's scoped to death, so that no-one now understands what the point is anymore
- #13: Emer: But small, public failures; not big private failures. Big monolithic projects where ‘failure is not an option’ are more likely to fail than small innovative ones, but
- #14: Emer: But small, public failures; not big private failures. Big monolithic projects where ‘failure is not an option’ are more likely to fail than small innovative ones, but
- #15: Chris
- #16: Emer
- #17: Emer
- #18: Emer
- #21: So what does this all mean
- #22: Chris
- #23: Chris
- #24: Chris
- #28: Emer
- #29: This is the Director of Digital Engagement’s Twitter connections
- #30: The smokers’ network
- #31: Unconferences
- #32: Chris
- #38: Emer
- #43: Chris
- #44: Chris: If our neighbours house burns down it affects us too
- #45: Emer
- #46: Chris
- #47: Emer
- #48: Chris
- #49: Emer
- #50: Emer
- #51: Chris
- #52: Emer
- #53: Chris
- #54: Emer
- #55: Chris
- #56: Emer
- #57: Chris: information, services, support when we want it, how we want it, where we want it
- #58: Emer