The International Open Data Conference (IODC), a gathering of over 1000 open data geeks from around the world, was held in Madrid, Spain last month. Given that I had attended the previous IODC event in Ottawa in May 2015, it provided me the opportunity to reflect on where open data is heading.
First of all, we all remain in violent agreement that open data is a good thing. Open data has always been viewed in a positive light from an open government and transparency perspective. What I found both interesting and encouraging is the fact that the conversation is changing. Specifically, there is a growing appetite for open data providers to understand how their data is being used. Why do they care? Because they want their data to be useful. And, in an open data world of exploding volume and limited resources to make that data open and available, an understanding of the underlying value of their data provides the opportunity to justify the resources that are required to make that data open. Sooner or later, Finance will require evidence that opening data is a good investment.
In order for the open data ecosystem to effectively “fire on all cylinders”, connecting the data user to the data provider must be effortless and intuitive. Which leads me to another lingering topic. Data discovery. I think it’s reasonable to assume that if you know what data you are looking for, there is a good chance you will be able to find it using Google or one of the burgeoning number of open data portals that have, or are coming, into existence. But how do you discover data? The way I see it is if there are websites that can help you find your soulmate, why can’t we develop a platform that matches data needs to data supply? A “Tinder for Open Data” if you will. Imagine if, as a data user, you could create a profile of your data needs. And, as a data provider, you could list all the data you have to offer. And, finally, through the magic of artificial intelligence, the next time you log into the system you are presented with some possible matches you may want to explore. Much like dating, you may not know what you want until you find it. Moreover, you may not know how compatible you are until you get to know each other.
Which leads me to my final thought. I am convinced that, now more than ever, both data users and data providers could benefit from an Open Data Users Conference – an event that brings stakeholders together for a common purpose: extracting value from open data in the most cost effective and productive manner possible. Even in the online dating world, you eventually have to meet face to face.
