Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Federal Government Launches Data.gov

Posted by timothy on from the selective-reporting dept.

Elastic Vapor writes "I'm happy to announce that the US Federal Government earlier today launched the new Data.Gov website. The primary goal of Data.Gov is to improve access to Federal data and expand creative use of those data beyond the walls of government by encouraging innovative ideas (e.g., web applications). Data.gov strives to make government more transparent and is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. The openness derived from Data.gov will strengthen the Nation's democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government." I hope the data reported will be impartially selected, honestly gathered, clearly explained, and perfectly accurate. Perhaps they could start with inspiration from the Concord Coalition's National Debt Counter.

5 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. I'll finally be able to know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    what you did last summer, free of charge.

  2. Stick it in Wolfram Alpha by malevolentjelly · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's get some of this data into Wolfram Alpha. Then we query things and get simple charts and graphs that will scare the living hell out of the average tax payer. "Annual cost of tank treads"... "total corporate welfare"...

  3. Limited but good potential by Statecraftsman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So far I see only 47 datasets available(is that the best you can do US Gov't?!?!) but the best thing about this site is that it serves as an official directory to myriad data sources. Higher visibility of that data to the general public may encourage more citizens to ask for this kind of data for their areas of interest or for their jurisdictions. So overall this is a good thing. The only thing I wish they would do is provide a forum/mailing list where data consuming developers can coordinate their tools to process this data. I expressed more about this idea here: http://www.thenationaldialogue.org/ideas/grow-a-development-data-analysis-community

  4. Mirror it quick by TomRC · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hope someone will mirror the data there the instant it appears, so when someone in power decides that an inconveniently revealed truth needs to be shoved down the memory hole, a web app will instantly highlight any redacted information.

  5. laboratoryofthestates.com by Baldrson · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Try laboratoryofthestates.com which I set up after the Feds decided to turn the national IT infrastructure over to India and send guys the guys who built the information industry to go eat out of dumpsters.

    I did it on no money and it has more data than data.gov.

    --
    Seastead this.