There are really three levels here: open government, open data, and data
use.
Open government, along with establishing two-way public communications,
means making government more comprehensible. This includes constantly
developing and releasing schemas, ontologies that describe how components,
data and processes works together and provide connection points for data,
and includes a functional and integrated access to information system.
Open data has to be connected by clear lines to open government features. We
have to be working on a puzzle that creates a complete picture of government
when it's done, not random pieces that can be manipulated. We can expect
initial releases to be based on the initiative of departments, convenience,
optics or spin, particular issues where the government is pro-active, as
well as the demands of citizens or groups. A useful response is needed as to
what standards the data will conform to and how it can be used, with a firm
commitment to Linked Open Data.
Data use is where visible government initiatives comes in. Government can
only do so much with the information. VG initiatives can package data and
add information ahead of government, whether it's to lead government to
accept new roles or areas that are just too controversial. I think it will
move away from lone hackers liberating data sets (though that will still be
essential to clean up data and make it easier to work with) to include
working with organizations, journalists and citizen groups.
David
On 22 October 2010 12:09, Andy Kaplan-Myrth <a...@kaplan-myrth.ca> wrote:
