Comments on: Linked data – currently a bumpy road http://lefert.com/blog/archives/83 Simon's rambling thoughts Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:59:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Simon http://lefert.com/blog/archives/83/comment-page-1#comment-107 Simon Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:23:06 +0000 http://lefert.com/blog/?p=83#comment-107 Thanks Luke. You've reminded me of<a href="http://blog.okfn.org/2010/02/04/rethinking-open-data-lessons-learned-from-the-open-data-front-lines/" rel="nofollow"> some interesting comments on the experience of open data in New Zealand</a>. One of the key messages here is to find what people want, and value, first, otherwise you will waste a lot of money and effort freeing up information that nobody wants. I fear we may have to re-learn this lesson the hard way in the UK. Thanks Luke.

You’ve reminded me of some interesting comments on the experience of open data in New Zealand. One of the key messages here is to find what people want, and value, first, otherwise you will waste a lot of money and effort freeing up information that nobody wants. I fear we may have to re-learn this lesson the hard way in the UK.

]]> By: Luke http://lefert.com/blog/archives/83/comment-page-1#comment-104 Luke Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0000 http://lefert.com/blog/?p=83#comment-104 An interesting point you make regarding users ability to extract the information they need. The problem is, we are always catering to the lowest common denominator when desseminating information, and this comes at a cost - how the information is presented, how it can be accessed and the time and effort spent on making it so - not to mention the delights of putting it through disclosure control checks. If only all our users were as intelligent as we are, right? ;-P There is also an obvious issue of cost vs benefit (as always) and despite the noble intentions of making such data available, while I support the concept I do not support the vehicle - users will always wind up giving producers of data a ring/sending an e-mail asking for such-and-such. I would suggest having the data available online but not spending too much effort on presentation or advanced accessibility...then when a request comes in that has not been done before, uploading that dataset for everyone to see, with appropriate titles and notes accompanying. An interesting point you make regarding users ability to extract the information they need. The problem is, we are always catering to the lowest common denominator when desseminating information, and this comes at a cost – how the information is presented, how it can be accessed and the time and effort spent on making it so – not to mention the delights of putting it through disclosure control checks.

If only all our users were as intelligent as we are, right? ;-P

There is also an obvious issue of cost vs benefit (as always) and despite the noble intentions of making such data available, while I support the concept I do not support the vehicle – users will always wind up giving producers of data a ring/sending an e-mail asking for such-and-such. I would suggest having the data available online but not spending too much effort on presentation or advanced accessibility…then when a request comes in that has not been done before, uploading that dataset for everyone to see, with appropriate titles and notes accompanying.

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