Open Government Data : Do The Least Possible

Streetfilms have made a great video making the case for opening up (US) public transit data. It nicely illustrates what can be done if private people have access to public information in a reusable way. (what is reusable public service information?)

A Case for Open Data in Transit from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Some notable quotes from the video:

Chris Dempsey, Massachusetts Department of Transportation on why it makes sense for his organization to release the data:
"If you take the model of the national weather service and apply it to the transit agencies you realize you can have just as many ways to get transit information as you do to get weather information. And the beauty of it is that it's no cost to the transit agencies."

But above all I liked what Tim O'Reilly said (emphasis mine):
"Government should think of itself as the platform that society builds on. Rather than government as a vending machine of actual service delivery. The idea of being a platform provider is you do the least possible, not the most possible, to enable others to build on what you do.

I think the importance of that remark bears repeating everywhere where the initial government reflex is to turn anything into something large and expensive. When you talk to those government parts and mention the word 'portal' they immediately envision a multi million Euro project. But that is completely unnecessary. I've spoken to different EU open data catalogue initiatives in the past few weeks and all of them are sticking to rules of simplicity and small size in terms of organization and budget, as that is what allows them to be successful. Currently I am working with the Dutch government on how a national open data catalogue should be organized, and I think Tim O'Reilly sums up nicely what the leading thought of my advice will be.

Tags: opendata, opengovdata, opengovernment

European Cognitive Edge Business Network

Last Friday I found myself in Luton, right next to the airport, for a day of interaction with ten fellow Cognitive Edge practitioners. On the invitation of Tony Quinlan and the entire Narrate crew, this was hopefully the first of multiple meet-ups and the start of doing much more actual work with Cognitive Edge methods. I for one am very eager to work with clients this way, and the network is essential for me to build up experience and steam to do that. Next meeting is planned for October, probably in Brussels.

Friday we spend the morning to get to know each other, and discussed the 'Children of the World' project Narrate has been doing. The afternoon we ate our own dog food and did both an anecdote circle sharing stories around landing and doing CE projects, as well as a 'The Future, Backwards' session to see how we can envision both a worst case and best case scenario for the business network we intended to start that day.

For me moving towards CE methods in my projects will be a focal point in the coming months, as in our complex world a lot of our current ways of working are simply failing. I believe at least some are waking up to that reality and are open to stop trying to do failing strategies harder, in the futile hope it will work this time, and start doing things differently.

Part of that focus is that I will be joining several other Cognitive Edge practitioners under the banner of TOP innosense, a new company starting in September by Harold van Garderen and Wouter de Heij. Under the TOP innosense label we will be able to do more than as individual consultants, so we are joining forces this way. It fits my perception of companies as mushrooms on the mycelium of the network. It's a building block for the European Cognitive Edge business network.

Tags: cognitiveedge, complexity

Announcing Open Data Event, Enschede (NL)

Together with several civil servants of my home city we've been busy getting open government data on the agenda locally. We did a session during last month's Open Innovation Festival, and are now trying to move it forward with a few other people we met up with because of that.

In September or October this year we will organize a local Open Data event.
On a Saturday we will have an event with two streams. One to present basic insights and experiences with open data, and to discuss issues open data creates for both governments and data re-users. And a second stream to actually create concepts and applications based on local open government data. In the run-up we will make sure that a number of interesting data sets will be available.
The week after that Saturday, groups of students from the local university for applied sciences (Saxion) will work for a week on applications that use open government data, earnig study credits. At the end of that week everything that was made will be presented.

We know from Canadian cities like Vancouver that open government data is a very powerful thing on the local level. It is where data is directly connected to your living environment. With this event we hope to demonstrate the potential of open data, raise the awareness about open data with local government, as well as create value for our city by building working applications.

Open Data Enschede is organized as a private initiative by Patrick Reijnders, Peter Breukers and Lars Fehse (Municipality of Enschede), Heinze Havinga (student in Enschede), and me.

Are you interested in this event in any way? Do let me know!

Tags: enschede, opendata, opengovdata

FabLab Arnhem Becomes Fifth Dutch FabLab

Today the FabLab Arnhem officially opened. FabLab Arnhem is housed at the HAN, university for applied sciences in Arnhem. With great enthusiasm a large group of people at the HAN worked to make it happen, and today that effort came to fruition.

In the presence of Glorianna Davenport, of MIT's Medialab, the birthplace of the FabLab concept, Ella Hueting and Titia Bredee, directors of the faculty for technology and education respectively signed the license of the Dutch FabLab Foundation, that is connected to using the FabLab name.
For the Dutch FabLab Foundation I had the honor of signing the license granting Arnhem FabLab status. Sadly I could not be present in person, as I was just returning from presenting FabLab at Lift 10 in Marseille. But immediately after landing in Amsterdam I connected with FabLab Arnhem through Skype, so I could see the proceedings in the FabLab, and they could see me sign the license in front of the camera.

Glorianna Davenport talking, Titia Bredee showing the signed license, me doing the same on the screen.

FabLab Arnhem will open to the public five days a week in September. They will be busy finishing the installation of all necessary machines and equipment until then. But today was the official opening with a lot of people attending. More pictures are available.

Toasting the new FabLab Arnhem, ltr Ella Hueting (director of technology), Inez Kohlmann (FabLab project leader), Glorianna Davenport (MIT Medialab), Titia Bredee (director of education)

FabLab Arnhem is the fifth FabLab in the Netherlands, and combined with the two FabLabs in Belgium, and the mobile FabLab, the eighth FabLab in the BeNeLux.
We are happy to welcome the FabLab Arnhem at the HAN into the network!

(all pictures in this posting by Hans Mestrum)

Tags: arnhem, fablab, fablabarnhem, netherlands

Public Transport Bicycles

In a regular week I travel quite a bit within the Netherlands. Thanks to the extensive rail network, I do most of that by train (using the car maybe once per 2 months). For some of my destinations I can easily walk from the rail station, but for others less so. There are of course buses, or trams, and taxis, but usually they are relatively time consuming, inflexible or expensive (taxis).

My bicycle today at Zwolle rail station

In the past 6 months or so, I've added something to the mix of my modes of transport that greatly enhances flexibility and has reduced cost: the public transport bike. These are sturdy bikes you can pick up at any railway station in the Netherlands. They usually also have battery powered scooters if cycling isn't your thing, or you need to cover a bit more distance. Over the past 6 months I've used them in six or so different cities on various occasions and each time they've been comfortable and easy. To me they're the perfect inner city solution.

Here's how it works:

• You register with the railway company and pay a 9 Euro subscription.


• You either get a subscription card, or (as in my case) the subscription is connected to the barcode on my rail card.


• At your destination you pick up a bike, have your card and the rfid-enabled key of the bike lock scanned, and you're on your way. (At unmanned rail stations you use your card to open up a locker that contains the bicycle.)


• You go where you need to go, and upon leaving by train return your bike. The bike is scanned again.


• For the first 24 hours the cost of lending the bike is just under 2 Euro.


• Each month I get an e-mail with an invoice listing where and when I used a bicycle. The amount is then automatically deducted from my bank account.

OV = Openbaar Vervoer = Public Transport, fiets = bicycle

All in all it's extremely easy, and it adds only about 2 euro to the cost of my train trips, while saving me lots of time as well as money and making me more flexible.

Tags: bicycle, ovfiets, publictransport

EC PSI Work Group - Presenting a Community Perspective

Yesterday I was in Luxembourg to participate in the EC's PSI Work Group meeting. The current state of open PSI and open government data was discussed, with some 16 of the EU member states present. It seems Denmark, UK, Spain, France, Sweden and the Netherlands are the six that are moving along fastest, and of the bigger countries Germany is the one most persistently doing next to nothing (on the national level).

I was invited to the meeting to give a perspective on open PSI as seen from the 'open data enthusiasts' community that is coalescing in Europe both on local, national and EU levels. I think I gave some constructive criticism on the state of play.

My slides and text are available as always on Slideshare:

Want to get involved? A good start is to follow our EU Open Data discussion list, hosted by the Open Knowledge Foundation.

Tags: eu, opendata, opengovdata, openpsi

My Guest Blogging at EU PSI Platform / EU PSI Events

Guest blogging about Open PSI in the EU
In the past weeks I have been writing a few articles as guest blogger at the EU's EPSI platform, dedicated to European efforts to open up public service information (PSI) and open government data. The EPSI platform does a good job of tracking relevant developments in the EU member states, and also their efforts on e.g. Twitter have surprised me with the speed at which they react to articles and postings elsewhere.

I wrote 4 articles for the EPSI-Platform guest blog, which I am posting here in summary.

Open Government Data in the Netherlands
Describing the fragmented nature of open data efforts in Dutch government, and the reasons why, even though the law is pretty clear on what must be done.

Being Aware of All Open PSI Stakeholders
Often I find entire groups of stakeholders are ignored or overlooked in the open government data debate. EIther on purpose or because of not being able to escape traditional frameworks and assumptions. The same goes for areas where Open PSI can create value. In this posting I describe the areas of interest I am aware of, and the groups of stakeholders visible in that area.

The Business Case for Open PSI, Part I
About all the reasons why asking for a business case for open data is a trap and an excuse to not do anything at all. And how to escape that trap.

The Business Case for Open PSI, Part II
Giving you 7 ways to make a useful business case for Open PSI in your government institution, and 4 groups of questions you can count on you will need to solve.

EU PSI Events In June
The coming weeks will see several events on Open PSI that I will be attending.
Tomorrow I will facilitate a discussion on a Dutch Open Government Data catalog for the Ministry f.t. Interior at 'Hack the Government' in Amsterdam.

In Madrid, June 9th, I will attend a session on 'Realising the Value of PSI', organized by the EPSI Platform and Aporta.es, the Spanish open government data portal.

In Luxembourg, June 23rd, I will be speaking at the annual meeting of the European Commission's PSI Group. The meeting will focus on both the developments around the re-use of PSI in the EU as well as on the review of the Directive on re-use of PSI. I will be giving my views on open data and PSI reuse from a community perspective.

Tags: epsi, eu, opendata, opengovdata, opengovernment, openoverheid

Help Shape a Dutch Gov Data Catalogue

Government data catalogues are an impulse for Open Data
The call for a Dutch catalogue of open government data is getting louder. Not surprising with the examples already available from the USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Worldbank. At the same time the landscape in the Netherlands is fragmented when it comes to open government data. Different government bodies approach open government data very differently.

Opening up government data is mandatory based on the EU Public Service Information directive of 2003, which has been transcribed into national law all over the EU. So that governments 'must' do this is clear. It's just that there's a difference in how much they 'want' it, and if they actually 'can' do it given their means and expertise. It's those differences that create the fragmented landscape in the Netherlands.

To make it easier for government bodies, so they 'can' do more, a national data catalogue is a great tool. It creates a clear single point of entry for citizens and organizations, and at the same time allows to create clear guidelines when it comes to metadata and dataset description, as well as maintenance, thus reducing the current fragmentation.

Hack the Government, May 29th, you're invited
Coming Saturday, May 29th, a new edition of 'Hack the Government' will take place in Amsterdam. Open government data is high on the agenda of the event.

Particularly, at the request of the Dutch Ministry for the Interior, I will moderate a discussion session (world cafe style) on what a Dutch Open Government Data Catalogue should be from the perspective of all the different stakeholders.

Data.gov.nl : Path of Growth
That there will be a Dutch data catalogue is not in doubt. It is already in the works. However it will start simple, as a straightforward list of pointers to existing national data sets 'as is'. So without a uniform cataloguing structure such as CKAN could provide, and without making sure the data sets are transformed into open standards in line with the principles of open government data. Making an inventory of national data sets is currently under way and will be available in July.

The key question for Saturday is how we, as stakeholders, view the path of development from those simple beginnings
What are must-have and nice-to-have features? How do you see future developments? What are high priority steps to take? How long will it, or should it take? How would you like to be and stay involved in the development of a data catalogue. This all from your own perspective, whether you are a scientist, a transparency activist, a lone coder, a citizen, a civil servant, or a company.

What happens with the results?
All results (including input received from people not present in the session Saturday) will be collated as an advice for the Ministry for the Interior. It will be used both in the discussions the Min Interior will have with other ministries, as well as in discussions with ICTU (gov ICT implementation dept). And I will of course try to stay involved myself to see the results are put to good use.

There will be a Dutch data catalogue. Help shape it!
The Dutch data catalogue will certainly be realized. You can help shape it and guide its path of development. By being there Saturday, or by letting your views be heard here in the comments, or in an e-mail to me.

Open Data icon and Open Government icon

Tags: opendata, opengov, opengovdata, openoverheid, openpsi

Empathic Civilization

Great little video I found in the blog of Viv McWaters (go have a look at her blog as well!)

The story line follows much of what I've been writing a good while back about how the interconnectedness internet and mobile communications create allows us to include people in our sphere of empathy on an unprecedented scale. And that changing scope of empathy is reshaping our cultures.

Tags: culturalcategories, culture, empathy, shift

Working On Stuff That Matters - WSTM

This posting is based on, and an extension of, my opening remarks from last Friday, when my 40th birthday unconference took place. The theme was 'Working on Stuff that Matters'

What is stuff that matters?
The question 'am I working on stuff that matters?' has gained more importance slowly but steadily in my life. First it was about getting more freedom of choice in what I worked on. My jobs step by step led to working as an independent professional. Since then I need to learn better to use that freedom to work with clients and on projects that matter. It is why the question 'am I working on stuff that matters?' has become much more prominent to me in the past year than before.

It's not world peace, it's using a macroscope
'Working on Stuff that Matters' doesn't mean world peace, or ending hunger in the world per se to me, as Robert also said. There are way more small things that matter than big ones I feel. The trick is probably in seeing those smaller things through a macroscope (a concept by John Thackara, introduced to me by Matt Webb's opening talk at Reboot, video here, last year). A macroscope allows you to see a thing in its bigger context, to "to feel the human scale and the grand view all at once"(quote).
To me that bigger context is that of peaking and declining physical resources, and of macro-systems (money systems, political systems, lineair management) failing to cope with our new networked and therefore complexity-filled era, while that networked era also brings us new places of abundance. That abundance lies in the digitalization of everything and the ability to access to collected knowledge and creativity of the whole of humankind. That is my macroscopic view, and it's what I tried to convey as the closing key-note of SHiFT in Lisbon last month. I think it's the fundamental context of our time.

Conversations going on

It's not just small things, it's meaningful settings around them
There are loads of small things that matter. That matter because they work towards taking on the much bigger context visible through the macroscope. It's also about working in ways that matter. The process involved in creating something is at least as important as the outcome. The process needs to embody the values that need to embody the result. It's why I think 20th century cathedrals are meaningless, and the ancient cathedrals and La Sagrada Familia, though unfinished, are meaningful. They are testimony to the community and community processes over generations that built them. Barn raising is way more important than having a barn built by a contractor, even though the result in terms of barns is the same. I've come to see for me as a primary driving force enabling others to do more themselves. Whether it's by allowing them a look through my personal macroscope, or by helping them acquire the skills and literacies needed to do things, or by providing new tools to that purpose.

Conversations going on

Sphere of influence
I am trying to translate those notions into stuff that I can tackle in my own sphere of influence. And to me those then make up the stuff that matters.
Stuff that's connected to the large scale things that are in motion, yet close enough to be of actual relevance in my own life, and done in ways that are consistent in meaning with the result.
And then there is the quest to bring more things into that place of actual relevance, bring more things into my sphere of influence. Which is I guess about me enabling me, bringing it full circle.

Time and attention are a currency
Ernst in his preparatory blogpost wrote how to him time and attention have become currencies. I feel much the same way, much more so now that I work independently. It's why open space's 'law of two feet' is important: to always let your feet take you to a place worth spending time and attention.
During the unconference we were therefore unusually rich. We all brought a full day of time and attention to spend. A rare gift of 40 people to each other.
So it was up to us to make that matter, make it worth spending all that currency in a day. By having great conversations, by inspiring each other, by making new connections, both in our minds, and with each other.

Conversations going on

Connections matter
Over the last 8 years, catalyzed by social media Elmine and I have met so many incredibly great people, and we saw our peer network virtually explode.
For me you that are the network of people around me have become my primary place of learning, working, living.
The sense of wonder I felt when the first connections with other people started popping up online around things that mattered to me, never left me again.
I still feel that sense of wonder every day. Especially on days like last Friday and Saturday. Those are proof of the deep and diverse connections our new network infrastructures have allowed us to build.

Making something that matters
Before the unconference I suggested we'd try to create something that matters. At first I thought of an actual artefact, even though I didn't have a clue what that could or should be. I now realize what we created that matters are actually the new connections we created during the event. Those connections we made through a process, the unconference, that mattered, a process that fostered curiosity, in an open setting and in a personal space (our home), as well as allowing conversations to wander to the topics that worked best.
The thing within my and Elmine's sphere of influence that we could do was to be host and create the circumstances for the process, in the awareness of the larger context of the import of weaving global networks. The sociogram we created is the artefact that is witness to both the process and the connections made.

Sociogram, result of process that mattered, map of connections that matter

It is why I will try to make that sociogram even more useful, by making it digitally shareable and reusable for interpretation.
It is also why I hope to be able to see the new ripples the connections will cause down the line, when new exchanges flow through them.

Tags: ton40, unconference, workingonstuffthatmatters, wstm