Web Design Ireland

Its has never been more relevant for government organisations to begin investing in internet technologies and data mining, and it’s great to see numerous progressions on the web in the UK to this end. Just yesterday, number 10 decided upon the introduction of online crime maps following in the footsteps of some other American based similar projects, such as the Everyblock website. There are obvious advantages in marrying technologies via Mashups in this manner, which ultimately starts to put the power back in the hands of the community - all via the web.

Another project run in the same vein, again by the Government is detailed over at Show Us a Better Way. The government offering a £20,000 prize fund to develop an idea with public data, some of the ideas coming up with the idea of crime maps (which no doubt found its way to approval at number ten for the above mentioned), policing maps and community investment strategies.  The main aim to make government data more open, transparent and effective through better use of published information. Also mentioned on the site are links to postcode data, census data and housing data. All great stuff that can be useful for Mashups, even if you have no intention of helping them create a groundbreaking app.

Finally they have realised that the people who are going to create useful applications are out there onthe web already; all they have to do is provide the necessary data to do so.