A few of us from Chandler’s Ford joined the camp, and have enjoyed a day of networking, workshops, coffee, and lovely lunch. The amount and the variety of cakes made it impossible for anyone who was trying to give up cakes and chocolate for Lent.
UK’s first Open Data Camp on 21st Feb 2015 in Winchester. Two hundred people attended the well-organised event.
Today is International Open Data Day. Citizens around the world have gathered in cities around the world to show support for and encourage the adoption of open data policies by the world’s governments.
The first Open Data Camp in the UK (21st to 22nd February 2015) has attracted participants from local and central government, start-ups and social enterprises, and the private and voluntary sector.
According to Cabinet Office from GOV.UK, the event forms a marketplace for innovation where participants share data, write applications, create visualisations and develop fresh insights. This will help bring the benefits of open data to even more people and help data-hungry businesses to grow.
To mark the occasion the government is liberating previously unreleased data and making it available to the general public.
I’m very new to the field of open data, and know very little about the movement. Today was a day for me to learn from those passionate people who have campaigned over years for access to open data to transform our lives.
Matthew Buck of Drawnalism captures the essence of Open Data Camp
Everyone was fascinated watching Matthew Buck of Drawnalism at work today. Like a Zen master, he worked calmly amongst noise and constant interruptions. Matthew Buck captured the day’s event with magnificent and humorous drawings.
Inner peace: Matthew Buck of Drawnalism at Open Data Camp on 21st Feb 2015 in Winchester.Capturing the event live: Matthew Buck of Drawnalism on Horror Stories of Open Data Camp 2015 in Winchester.
Many campmakers have worked tirelessless to make the Open Data Camp a success. Sasha Taylor of British Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials is just one of them.
One of the campmakers – Sasha Taylor of British Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.
Inspiration: On the Wight
I met Simon Perry, creator of On The Wight, a successful and popular hyperlocal on the Isle of Wight, which celebrates its 10th year anniversary this year.
Simon Perry, editor of On the Wight, was giving his pitch for his workshop on Day 1 of Open Data Camp, Winchester. Image by Sasha Taylor via Flickr.
I also attended a workshop about Journalism and Open Data led by Simon. Simon is truly an inspiration to me for my work with this two-year-old Chandler’s Ford Today website.
Popular hyperlocal by Simon Perry – On the Wight – has been running for 10 years.
Mark Braggins: Open Data Camp organiser
Open Data Camp organiser Mark Braggins is in his element. Image by Sasha Taylor via Flickr.
Open Data Camp Organiser Mark Braggins said:
“Open Data Camp has gone from just an idea to a fully-fledged event in just a few months.
The level of interest has been astonishing, with people travelling from across the UK at a weekend to talk about, and make stuff happen, with open data.
Working together we can help overcome some really tricky challenges, and spark ideas which could result in new businesses being born. Open Data Camp is about engineering serendipity.”
Live-blogging talent: Adam Tinworth
Adam Tinworth: amazing blogger – speed, accuracy, dedication. Open Data Camp Winchester 21 Feb 2015. Image by Sasha Taylor via Flickr.
I’m astonished to find that men do multi-task. I’m totally amazed at the live-blogging skill of Adam Tinworth, a business journalist and publishing strategist who writes One Man and His Blog, and On the river by the sea.
Adam Tinworth produced these blog posts live today on Open Data Camp UK, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy:
11 Horror Stories of Open Data
Design and Data: how do we bring them together?
Food, hygiene and the open data challenge
Building an Open Addresses database – and opening its APIs
Open Data for Charities – opportunities and roadblocks
Open Data Camp Winchester 2015: unconference and maker-space
I’m pleased to share with you some highlights of Day One of Open Data Camp in Winchester. These photographs were all taken by Sasha Taylor. You’ll find his Open Data Camp pictures in Sasha Taylor’s Photostream on Flickr.
I created Chandler's Ford Today. I use this website to share our passions and inspiring stories, to build a connected community. We inform, educate and enlighten. We share resources.
Thanks very much for writing this, Janet – I’m so pleased you were able to come to Open Data Camp, and that you felt it was worthwhile and interesting. I’ll look in to the idea of an open data drop-in / introductory session (where did we discuss that, Google Plus?)
best wishes,
Mark
Luckily I went with some strong men! They seemed to know more than I did, but I did enjoy exploring various topics there. The Ordnance Survey team did help clarifying some of my questions and I hope to be able to use their data soon.
It’s always good to feel a bit ‘out of my depth’ as it will inspire me to find out more. Watching Matthew Buck at work from a safe distance (so that not to distract him, but then nothing could have distracted him!) was absolutely a bonus.
One thing I must add is that the energy bouncing at the HCC headquarters that weekend was vibrant and so contagious. I love being wrapped in such positive energy.
Thank you for such a tremendous weekend – insightful concept and meaningful networking. Thank you for your wonderful team and many selfless people, who made the event such a memorable one. You all have set a great example. Look forward to your drop-in session (for dummies). Yes we discussed it on Google Plus.
Thanks very much for writing this, Janet – I’m so pleased you were able to come to Open Data Camp, and that you felt it was worthwhile and interesting. I’ll look in to the idea of an open data drop-in / introductory session (where did we discuss that, Google Plus?)
best wishes,
Mark
Hi Mark,
Luckily I went with some strong men! They seemed to know more than I did, but I did enjoy exploring various topics there. The Ordnance Survey team did help clarifying some of my questions and I hope to be able to use their data soon.
It’s always good to feel a bit ‘out of my depth’ as it will inspire me to find out more. Watching Matthew Buck at work from a safe distance (so that not to distract him, but then nothing could have distracted him!) was absolutely a bonus.
One thing I must add is that the energy bouncing at the HCC headquarters that weekend was vibrant and so contagious. I love being wrapped in such positive energy.
Thank you for such a tremendous weekend – insightful concept and meaningful networking. Thank you for your wonderful team and many selfless people, who made the event such a memorable one. You all have set a great example. Look forward to your drop-in session (for dummies). Yes we discussed it on Google Plus.