We are inundated with tales of analysts who strike ‘gold’ when they work with the vast amount of information at their disposal. Well, at the risk of bursting someone’s bubble, I want to share some cautionary tales in the hopes that you learn to avoid the various pitfalls of buying into what is tantamount toRead… Read more »
Let me make one thing clear: Utah has been in the open data game for years. But now, with their new open data catalog, they are streamlining the process and making it easier for users to find the right data sets. David Fletcher, Chief Technology Officer at the Utah Department of Technology Services, told meRead… Read more »
“Mine! Mine! Mine!” Despite my parents consistently emphasizing the importance of sharing, when it came to my Legos or other favorite toys, sharing wasn’t such a simple task. But as time went on, I got better at sharing and saw the benefits (and lack of scoldings) that it generated. The ability to share is anRead… Read more »
“Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset.” – President Barack Obama, in Transparency and Open Government memo. Today, there is an increased focus on the value of open data, especially inRead… Read more »
Libraries are magical places! Growing up, the local library was my favorite place to go. I loved the silence, the endless possibilities of good books, and the feeling of pure escape. But lately, libraries have transformed into so much more than just a book repository. Brian Burke, Managing Director at the Center for Technology inRead… Read more »
…when coupled with the word “data”, “dark” is anything BUT sinister…
If you’re a government geek (like me) you love to see how federal, state, and local governments set their budget priorities. And (like me) you probably get even more excited when you can see those priorities linked to revenue and spending in an easy-to-find, read, and understand format. Below, I’ve shared some of the bestRead… Read more »
Back in elementary school you learned via School House Rock how a bill becomes a law. But in the catchy song, they don’t tell you a law could be changed – or amended. The Data Act became law back in May of 2014, but just like any new law there are still some kinks toRead… Read more »
In February, the Commence Department opened the Office of Digital Engagement. The idea was simple. Create an office where users can interact with the department on any communication channel. Twitter? Of course. Facebook? You bet. Even Instagram. “This year we put our Secretary on Instagram. She was the first cabinet member to be on Instagram,”Read… Read more »
2014 may very well go down as the year of open data. The federal government passed the Open Data Act back in May. Major cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia hired Chief Data Officers. And many states like Maryland and New York followed suit. But the push for governments to open data sets does haveRead… Read more »
