Governments and public agencies in Europe collect and analyze huge amounts of data on all sorts of subjects. This is not a vain exercise: much of the information gathered is useful and valuable to someone (if only the agency that collected it).

Efforts to facilitate and encourage public access often lag behind what citizens expect:

  • Some information is basically inaccessible.
  • Often raw data is digested by a priestly class of researchers who publish their findings in a report. Some reports are insightful and well-written; however, the data is usually kept off-limits.
  • In France, where I live, web sites that disseminate public information vary widely in quality: some are great, others are antiques. My pet peeves include having to pay for public (taxpayer funded?) information and complicated registration schemes.
  • The European Union Publications Office deserves special commendation for making it difficult for ordinary citizens to access a wealth of information.

I was thrilled to have encountered Show Us a Better Way, a site from the UK that challenges you, "Tell us what you'd build with public information and we could help fund your idea!" The Power of Information Task Force –I love that name!– is behind the site; cabinet office minister Tom Watson is behind the task force.

Show Us a Better Way organized a contest, with prize money, to attract ideas for how public data could be put to use. Winning submissions include:

  • a mailbox (post box) locator, by postal code and street address;
  • a bicycle route planner;
  • a public bathroom locator ("loofinder");
  • a map showing where schools are.

The contest may be over, but the projects are moving forward.

The whole site entertains and informs. It's not pretentious, and its content seems to have designed to be read. There's no boilerplate –corporate-speak or legalese– or fill. My favorite frequently asked question was: should I also file an application with the patent office? The reply:

"This is something for you to think about. The best source of
information about steps you can take to protect your idea is the
Intellectual Property Office itself. Their guidance is here."

Great question, great answer.

I wish there were more sites and initiatives like Show Us a Better Way.