Posted in: REST API
Posted by: Open Knowledge Conference 2009
Public Sector Information Holder: UK Intellectual Property Office
Information Asset: Patent Data
The problem
The data on patents is kept purposefully difficult to access and interpret. While Google Patents has made some progress in opening up patent data, there is much to be done. First, there are many sources of patents, and an exploration of British and European patents is needed. For example, individual patents themselves are not that interesting - what is more interesting is how patents are made to cover entire technology platforms. In order to understand this, we need data and API level access to patent data.
My ideal solution
UK patent information published in RDF, or made queryable via SPARQL.
What I would do
Develop applications that explore how patents and technologies overlap.
Posted at Saturday, March 28, 2009 10:16:11 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Posted in: XML
Posted by: Open Knowledge Conference 2009
Public Sector Information Holder: Department for International Development
Information Asset: UK Government Aid Information
The problem
There are a number of projects like AidInfo which aim to make international development aid more effective by introducing greater transparency into aid information. The Department for International Development publish lots of statistics and case studies on their website but not the raw data. For initiatives like AidInfo to work better, the UK government should publish all of its raw data aid information in an easy to re-use XML format on the web.
My ideal solution
DFID should publish the raw data about its funding schemes - i.e. exactly who gets what, for doing what.
What I would do
The information can be used to improve services like AidInfo and help make international aid more effective at improving people's lives.
Posted at Saturday, March 28, 2009 9:49:42 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Posted in: REST API
Posted by: Open Knowledge Conference 2009
Public Sector Information Holder: UK Government
Information Asset: URI addressable resources
The problem
It is one of the principles of the web, that resources (web pages, documents, data) are made addressable. This means assigning resources, URIs. In order to help create a more re-use centric web, the government needs to focus on allowing 'resources' to be addressable, as a first step to exposing its data.
My ideal solution
That when publishing to the web, government departments make the things of most relevance or use to the wider world, directly addressable. The ideas are expressed in the Power of Information Taskforce Report, but government department's don't follow through.
What I would do
This is an essential ingredient for developing the web of data - so key to pretty much any mashup application.
Posted at Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:47:36 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)