LOCUS Association celebrates 4th Birthday
The UK LOCUS Association celebrated the 4th anniversary in central London on the 25th January 2010 with a meeting attended by 40+ members and invited guests to consider Public Sector information – The next Ten Years.
A panel of speakers set the scene and this was followed by an active question and answer session that ran for 30 minutes before the celebrations began.
It was clear that the LOCUS Association has matured and has contributed to the advancements in the UK with respect to exploiting public sector information commercially but acknowledged that there was still plenty to do to ensure the spirit of the European Union Directive 2003/98/EC is delivered sustainably within the UK.
The panel of speakers included:
- Professor Nigel Shadbolt, The Government Information Advisor
- The Right Honourable Francis Maude, Member of Parliament, Shadow Cabinet Office, Conservative Party
- Sir Bryan Carsberg, Locus Association President.
Further background information on the event maybe found in the published Programme, the Speaker biographies and the information about the LOCUS Association.
Professor Shadbolt reported that within the first 24 hours data.gov.uk received 700 thousand hits and within the first 40 minutes of the opening three mash-up applications had been produced. The Beta version of data.gov.uk opened with 2879 data sets mostly to a consistent standard and predominantly the data is held in spreadsheets. Professor Shadbolt stated that data.gov.uk used open source software that had been rigorously tested to ensure its robustness. The initiative has not involved massive financial outlay and there were no payments for the software. Professor Shadbolt also stated that work had commenced this week on opening up public sector information at the local level and that he was Chairing the group leading this initiative.
Francis Maude MP welcomed the data.gov initiative and stated that should the Conservative Party come into power in the UK elections during 2010 that the initiative to open up public sector information will be sustained. Francis Maude commended Tom Watson MP for his leadership on the Power of Information initiative, praised Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Professor Shadbolt for their work and contribution to opening up public sector information within the UK and looked forward to further announcements in April 2010 when Ordnance Survey data will be opened up and made available for no financial charge.
Sir Bryan Carsberg also welcomed the recent initiatives and the spirit of data liberalisation that will lead to a tremendous boost to the UK economy as a result in due course. Sir Bryan emphasised that economic theory with respect to electronic information indicated that maximum benefit was achieved when the information is made available at no financial charge or at the cost of delivery. This had been shown in recent years by the UK Office of Fair Trading CUPI report and the Cambridge University report on Trading Funds.
The general feel of the meeting was one of optimism that at long last the UK was beginning to open up public sector information and that in the coming months a number of the more difficult issues such as the Public Sector Information Holders that act commercially will be gradually aligned with the spirit of data liberalisation. It was acknowledged by those present that this would bring some pain as the changes were implemented both to the public sector information holders that needed to adapt (a cultural and operational change) to the new open environment as well as existing private sector data providers and re-users of public sector information. (Adapting the business models to deal with public sector information that is made available at no charge and with simple terms and conditions).
Locus planning key industry event: “PSI – The Next Ten Years"
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