From:
Peter Harrison
Date:
May 13 15:27 NZST
Short link
Perhaps a little late to post here, but the NZCS is running the
following presentation tonight:
https://www.nzcs.org.nz/events/auckland/140-National_Series_Transformational_ICT_through_Open_Data
National Series: Transformational ICT through Open Data
(Previously called "A Brave New World: Rebuilding Civil Society Online")
Throughout Europe in the 18th Century the great Age of Enlightenment
was born, a movement promoting the black arts of education, reason and
logic in decision-making.
In this entertaining and informative presentation popular ICT
commentator and online strategist Paul Reynolds will shine light on
the new Internet-driven "Age of Enlightenment" happening right now,
and how individuals and organisations can cash in on the phenomena by
building upon the growing wealth of publicly-available open data
covering everything from map and geospatial information, through to
the human genome itself.
Exploring what is available and where is fascinating, and as Reynolds
takes us through some of the more obscure and interesting datasets
freely available, what we can do with it will surprise even the most
data-aware information scientists amongst us.
Reynolds will argue that with the age of the Internet and the new age
of Cloud Computing now upon us, the revolution is already here, with
levels of information and data never seen before at our fingertips and
the type, nature and volume of open data expanding rapidly.
Similarly, the scope and range of the tools being applied to open
government and e-democracy are transforming the landscape we, as ICT
professionals, operate in, also impacting on politicians, bureaucrats,
citizens and business.
But where does the ICT profession sit in relation to these double
revolutions? Managing information and data has responsibilities
attached, and is the profession really ready and open to always-on
ubiquitous networks, or will risk aversion, and a craving for the old
certainties of centralisation send the baby with the bathwater?
In a truly inspired presentation designed to provoke discussion and
debate Paul Reynolds's asks: Is the ICT profession ready for the 18th
century?
Of course - perhaps I'm way too late to mention this, but in case
others will be there, it may be an opportunity to get together for an
informal chat after?