[open-development] Blog post: Some of my thoughts following OKCon in Geneva

Tue Oct 29 09:24:18 UTC 2013

Hi Duncan,

I really enjoyed your piece - and this thread. Some of my thoughts on the
challenges (and dangers) here were distilled in this piece written just
over a year ago:

http://blog.okfn.org/2012/09/13/managing-expectations-ii-open-data-technology-and-government-2-0/

Rufus

On 28 October 2013 16:12, Duncan Edwards <D.Edwards at ids.ac.uk> wrote:

>  Hi Bill,****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks for this – I’m really hoping we do have increased debate about
> these issues and as a result increasingly test our assumptions, learn, and
> adapt the work we are doing to increase our impact.****
>
> ** **
>
> I was interested to read some of the comments on the blog which seemed to
> suggest I was critical or opposed to “openness” – I am a huge advocate of
> “open” but I do feel we do need to challenge and test ourselves to both
> increase our impact but also be able to demonstrate impact.****
>
> ** **
>
> I love your last couple of paragraphs below particularly the bit about
> potholes J - the only thing we should add would be to flesh out a bit
> more on the “host of other priorities” to include elements around political
> economy which are potentially the biggest stumbling blocks to change.****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers,****
>
> Duncan****
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Duncan Edwards
> ICT Innovations Manager – Knowledge Services
> Programme Manager - Research & Evidence Component, Making All Voices Count
>
> Institute of Development Studies, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK ****
>
> Charitable Company No. 877338
> Global Knowledge *for Global Change
> *email: d.edwards at ids.ac.uk  tel: +44 (0)1273 915797
> fax: +44 (0)1273 621202 ****
>
> Skype: duncan_ed1****
>
> Twitter: @duncan_ids <http://twitter.com/duncan_ids>
> ****
>
> Bio: http://www.ids.ac.uk/person/duncan-edwards
> Knowledge Services at IDS:*http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/knowledge-services*
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Bill Anderson [mailto:Bill.Anderson at devinit.org]
> *Sent:* 23 October 2013 10:24
> *To:* Duncan Edwards; open-development at lists.okfn.org
> *Subject:* RE: [open-development] Blog post: Some of my thoughts
> following OKCon in Geneva****
>
> ** **
>
> Duncan, I hope this stimulates wide debate in the open data movement. ****
>
> ** **
>
> You are not alone in making the points that you do. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Here's Jay Naidoo at the Making All Voices Count event in Johannesburg two
> weeks ago:****
>
> ** **
>
> "No country in the world is run by Facebook or Twitter. Don’t fool
> yourself that social media is going to create the revolution of social
> values that we need. It’s actually going down to the people and explaining
> to them what their rights are, equipping them with the right tools and
> making sure they fight their own battles."
> http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-10-11-mind-the-gap-using-technology-for-a-better-life/#.UmeFo_msiM4
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Here's Ben Leo from the Centre for Global Development commenting on US aid
> transparency:****
>
> ** **
>
> "Herein lies the problem with the USG’s aid transparency efforts. It more
> often resembles a document and data dumping ground instead of a
> user-friendly interface for government officials, media and interested
> citizens in developing countries..."
> http://international.cgdev.org/blog/it%E2%80%99s-high-time-usaid-join-user-defined-information-age?&co=f000000009816s-1158206718<http://international.cgdev.org/blog/it%E2%80%99s-high-time-usaid-join-user-defined-information-age?&co=f000000009816s-1158206718>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Very little data makes sense on its own. It needs joining up with other
> data to be contextualised. It needs curation, analysis and interpretation
> to turn it into meaningful, usable, accessible information. And after all
> this it becomes a useful component (not the driver) of socio-economic
> change.****
>
> ** **
>
> Open Data is important, but so is joined-up data, interoperable data
> standards, access to information and a host of other priorities.****
>
> Open Data is important, but an app plotting potholes is just an app
> plotting potholes.****
>
> Open Data is important, but we shouldn't let our enthusiasm turn to
> tunnel-vision or arrogance. ****
>
> This is where the current danger lies...****
>
> ** **
>
> Best,****
>
> Bill Anderson****
>
> Data Standards Advisor @ Development Initiatives****
>
> IATI Technical Lead****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* open-development-bounces at lists.okfn.org [
> mailto:open-development-bounces at lists.okfn.org<open-development-bounces at lists.okfn.org>]
> *On Behalf Of *Duncan Edwards
> *Sent:* 23 October 2013 07:54
> *To:* open-development at lists.okfn.org
> *Subject:* [open-development] Blog post: Some of my thoughts following
> OKCon in Geneva****
>
> ** **
>
> Hello everyone,****
>
>  ****
>
> I thought you may be interested in a blog post I posted to the OKFN blog
> which captures some of my thoughts on what was talked about at some of the
> Open Development sessions at OKCon in Geneva back a few(ish) weeks ago.***
> *
>
>  ****
>
> “The revolution will NOT be in Open Data”****
>
> http://blog.okfn.org/2013/10/21/the-revolution-will-not-be-in-open-data/**
> **
>
>  ****
>
> Interested to hear people’s thoughts on this.****
>
>  ****
>
> Best wishes,****
>
> Duncan****
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Duncan Edwards
> ICT Innovations Manager
> Institute of Development Studies, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK ****
>
> Charitable Company No. 877338
> Global Knowledge *for Global Change
> *email: d.edwards at ids.ac.uk  tel: +44 (0)1273 915797
> fax: +44 (0)1273 621202 ****
>
> Skype: duncan_ed1****
>
> Twitter: @duncan_ids <http://twitter.com/duncan_ids>
> ****
>
> Bio: http://www.ids.ac.uk/person/duncan-edwards
> Knowledge Services at IDS:*http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/knowledge-services*
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ****
>
>  ****
>
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-- 
*

Rufus Pollock

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