6 Phases A Government Agency Goes Through When Asked To Open Up Their Data

Finally got around to catching up with the Guardian's TechWeekly podcast from 8th June and for those, like myself, that are advocates of "open government" / "open data" (can you have the one without the other?) you should get yourself along to around the 25min mark to hear Tom Watson (UK Labour MP) who:

... was instrumental in helping the previous [UK] Labour government understand the value of opening up its public records, shares his view on the reasons why openness should be valued – and what he had to do to convince his political colleagues

I strongly advice all those 'working;' in this field to listen to his views and approach!

I especially loved his excellent "6 point plan" in regards to the "institutional response to data release":

1. Denial that the Minister is asking for this stuff
2. Resistance
3. Moral Panic when they realise you're serious
   ... after the release ...
4.  Outrage that this stuff is being given away and it's out there
5. Period of reflection
6. Finally there is innovation
   ("this is where success is a thousand fathers and mothers and everyone says it was their idea and what a great initiative it " :-)

Also his ego-less (for a politician) approach to working with the current Government is a pleasure to see - so grown up and a million miles from the school yard antics we get to hear about in the mass media.

'NZ Open Govt' Calendar

Ok, so Craig Thomler popped an Aussie calendar up first with his Gov 2 and social media events calendar for Australia to which I thought, "Shame there's not enough NZ events to warrant a calendar" - I was wrong, the demand is there so let's crack into a similar calendar for NZ.

The "NZ Open Govt' calendar is based upon the barcamp calendar from the NZ Open Govt Data Barcamp and Hackfest event. That means it's open to all members of the associated Google Group already.

If you want to add an event to the calendar let me know and I can do it for you OR, even better, give you the access to do it yourself - mike.riversdale+nzopengovt@miramarmike.co.nz

Links:

• Public URL
  http://www.google.com/calendar/hosted/miramarmike.co.nz/embed?src=gmeclgm8mueio8p9dhk05e47n4%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Pacific/Auckland
• Subscribe (ics)
  http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/gmeclgm8mueio8p9dhk05e47n4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
• XML feed
  http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/gmeclgm8mueio8p9dhk05e47n4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic

"Everyone" On The Internet Isn't Always International

Another in the series, "No, the Internet isn't international" - pt1, pt2, pt3

Google released it's Google Voice service with the headline, Google Voice for everyone.
Of course the 'everyone' referenced was 'everyone in the USA' ... check out the blog comments.

It is actually a serendipitous discovery for Google that a) they are a no-borders company; b) their Google Voice service is obviously eagerly awaited all around the planet.

"No-borders company" ... hmm, actually no, they are not. They are legally a USA company with the majority of their staff working within the US. They have (large) satellite offices around the world that feed back to the main US corporation. Their services are perceived as being ubiquitous and global but even that perception is false - you can't get a blogger account in China, never have been able to.

So, OK, Google isn't global but the perception is that they "think global".
The same for Facebook ("credits", one monetary system for the whole planet anyone), Amazon and all the other major Internet players.

But they don't.
When it comes down to it they are local US companies staffed by local US people that, naturally, think everyone else is awake when they are and goes to sleep when they do.

Perception != reality

The Internet Isn't International ... Again

More in my Kiwi-centric "the Internet isn't really international, is it!" series - pt1, pt2

Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us [video]

But we carry on rewarding with $$$ rewards - crazy eh!