A few years ago I wrote a post called "What is a Dataset?" It lists a variety of the different definitions of "dataset" used in different communities and standards. What I didn't do is give my own working definition of dataset. I wanted to share that here along with a few additional thoughts on some … Continue reading What is a Dataset? Part 2: A Working Definition
Category: Open Data
The Lego Analogy
I think Lego is a great analogy for understanding the importance of data standards and registers. Lego have been making plastic toys and bricks since the late 40s. It took them a little while to perfect their designs. But since 1958 they've been manufacturing bricks in the same way, to the same basic standard. This … Continue reading The Lego Analogy
Mapping wheelchair accessibility, how google could help
This month Google announced a new campaign to crowd-source information on wheelchair accessibility. It will be asking the Local Guides community of volunteers to begin answering simple questions about the wheelchair accessibility of places that appear on Google Maps. Google already crowd-sources a lot of information from volunteers. For example, it asks them to contribute photos, … Continue reading Mapping wheelchair accessibility, how google could help
Bath Playbills 1812-1851
This weekend I published scans of over 2000 historical playbills for the Theatre Royal in Bath. Here are some notes on whey they come from and how they might be useful. The scans are all available on Flickr and have been placed into the public domain under a CC0 waiver. You're free to use them … Continue reading Bath Playbills 1812-1851
We can strengthen data infrastructure by analysing open data
Data is infrastructure for our society and businesses. To create stronger, sustainable data infrastructure that supports a variety of users and uses, we need to build it in a principled way. Over time, as we gain experience with a variety of infrastructures supporting both shared and open data, we can identify the common elements of … Continue reading We can strengthen data infrastructure by analysing open data
Thank you for the data
Here are three anecdotes that show ways in which I've shared data with different types of organisation, and how they've shared data with me. Last year we donated some old children's toys and books to Julian House. When we dropped them off, I signed a Gift Aid declaration to allow the charity to claim additional … Continue reading Thank you for the data
“The Rock Thane”, an open data parable
In a time long past, in a land far away, there was a once a troubled kingdom. Despite the efforts of the King to offer justice freely to all, many of his subjects were troubled by unscrupulous merchants and greedy landowners. Time and again, the King heard claims of goods not being delivered, or disputes … Continue reading “The Rock Thane”, an open data parable
Data is infrastructure, so it needs a design manual
Data is like roads. Roads help us navigate to a destination. Data helps us navigate to a decision. I like that metaphor. It helps to highlight the increasingly important role that data plays in modern society and business. Roads help us travel to work and school. They also support a variety of different business uses. … Continue reading Data is infrastructure, so it needs a design manual
Lunchtime Lecture: “How you (yes, you) can contribute to open data”
The following is a written version of the lunchtime lecture I gave today at the Open Data Institute. I'll put in a link to the video when it comes online. It's not a transcript, I'm just writing down what I had planned to say. https://www.slideshare.net/ldodds/how-you-yes-you-can-contribute-to-open-data Hello! I'm going to talk today about some of the … Continue reading Lunchtime Lecture: “How you (yes, you) can contribute to open data”
Where can you contribute to open data? Yes, you!
This is just a quick post to gather together some pointers and links that were shared in answer to a question I asked on twitter yesterday: https://twitter.com/ldodds/status/867295476151980032 I want to try out a bunch of different services to explore how easy it is for people to contribute to open data project. Because I'm interested in … Continue reading Where can you contribute to open data? Yes, you!
Lost Boy 