The British ShowUsABetterWay.com
Monday, July 28, 2008
Here in the UK, government consultations that involve the public in the process of making new laws and regulations are two a penny, but it's unusual for them to come with £20,000 of prize money attached.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office in the UK Government recently launched such a competition -- called Show Us a Better Way -- which has already received over 200 entries.
The government's site is designed to illustrate potential web applications using public sector information, such as statistics, maps, or event listings. Through these examples, the Government will crystalise the case for improving the accessibility of that information. This is vital because, while the aim is noble, the technical means of achieving such accessibility are usually difficult to explain, and quickly induce glazed expressions on the faces of citizens and politicians alike. See, for example, issues like marginal cost pricing and XML schemas.
In contrast, many of the suggestions on the site are both useful, and rooted in the everyday experience of citizens, like bus arrival times on your phone, house prices correlated with commuting maps or better information about crime hotspots.
This is the latest innovative step in the international efforts to demonstrate the value and power that public information has when it is combined with the enterprising and open spirit of the web -- a spirit which Google wholeheartedly supports.
yeah
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. I can't wait to see this happen in the US. I've got a trillion ideas. Sorta sad that the British get to lead the way on this though. It wouldn't hurt to have a president that at least knows how to "get on the google."
ReplyDeleteIt's rather sad that there has been only one comment on this subject. A common complaint by the general public is "they don't listen to us".
ReplyDeletePeople have many ideas about how to run public organizations etc.. How about better ways to clear snow,suggestions about what needs to be discussed at Parent/Teacher meetings from the parents, local opening & closing times of the library...museums...Animal pounds...as well as bus & train timetables.
Yes, so we can look them up if the information is readily available, but it would reduce telephone calls etc. Often this information is needed when the internet is not available.