Public Data Explorer Google- Open public data for decision making

PIC: Image from Google Public Data Explorer.

There is already a lot of research in the social sciences [statistical orientation] that yields raw data for further analysis and decision making. Thanks to the exponential growth of the Internet, there is plenty of this data available for us, simple mortals, to use for answering our own research questions. This type of data has also the potential to be used for decision making in the realm of public policies. In a previous post, we had talked about Hans Rosling and his “Gapminder” , an interactive tool for statistical data exploration [structured data]. Today, I would like to put upfront the example of the Public Data Explorer from Google. Not too late ago, Google bought “Trendalyzer”, a data analysis tool from Gapminder and made this tool even more public. Ola Rosling, Hans’ son, talks about the tool in the following video:

But not only that, the abilities of this new “Public Data Explorer” allows common individuals to explore easily large public data sets [coming from: UN, OECD, WORLD BANK, ETC] by giving them as a default, tools to visualize and communicate this information interactively. Data becomes more accessible and universal. Give it a try.

Cell Phones- the real democratization of photography

Photo: Gare à Nouadhibu, Mauritania (CMiranda)
We’ve debated longly about the penetration of cell phones in all the World, and how they have the potential of being a mean for information, education or to achieve other intentions towards development. (See posts: Democratic Cell Phones and Third World Generalizations and Designing for ubiquity-mobile apps for social innovation )

Photo: Legueila Oasis, Mauritania 

In this short post I’d like to point out what I’ve experienced here in Africa, which is very similar to what happens to us in Chile. I remember my old days a a Design student where we had to ”develop the film” and use photo-rolls. Just a very expensive enterprise. With the digital cameras, that has turned into an experience “from the past”. It happens to me often that I am taking pictures of people (here in Africa) and sending them to (if they have) their e-mails. Sometimes even showing the picture taken for some is enough. (if you come to Africa be careful to just promise that you’ll send a picture if you will do so for sure) 

But it is not so cheap or easy to get a digital camera in markets that do not produce them (like the US or Asia). It might be cheaper than before, but not accessible as we would love to.
In his book, “The World is Flat”, (2005) Thomas L.Friedman mentions a case where HP started a public private project with Andhra Pradesh in India. “You cannot design this stuff in Palo Alto; you have to cocreate with the user-customer beneficiary.”, he says. After collaborative instances with the community;

Tim Berners Lee- Democratizing raw data to tackle social issues

Videos have subtitles/ videos con subtítulos
DATA DEMOCRATIZATION, OPEN SOURCE AS A WAY TO SOLVE BIG SOCIAL ISSUES IN AREAS LIKE HEALTH AND ECONOMICS-OR-DON’T BE A DATA HUGGER
Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, in his 2009 TED talk called ON THE NEXT WEB, indicated that opening data to ordinary people might be the answer to major problems we face in society, such as health or economy. He was referring to liberating linked “raw” data collected by governments, scientists and communities. The major claim he does is:

“Open your raw data now”

DATA TO THE PEOPLE
[read it thinking on the John Lennon's song "Power to the People"]
On 2010, he gave another TED talk: THE YEAR THE DATA WENT WORLDWIDE, but this time; he showed what individuals did with that disseminated raw data. The examples he showed had to do with individuals picking up that