SlideShare uma empresa Scribd logo
1 de 30
Open data in
education:
What's the point?
Hello open data fans!
Here's a question for you:
How many sheep are in the photo on
the next slide?
Easy - there are two, right?
Well, maybe...
Either of these sheep could be a ram, which,
according to some definitions, is different from
a sheep. But you can't tell by looking.
Similarly, either could be a female sheep. And a
female sheep might be pregnant.
Assuming sheep only have one baby sheep at
a time (they don't, but anyhow), how many
sheep is a fetus?
Is it one sheep, half a sheep, zero sheep?
So depending on how we define 'sheep', the
number of sheep in the photo might be...
0
1
1
1.5
2
2
2
2
2
2.5
2.5 + 0.5
3
4
So depending on how we define 'sheep', the
number of sheep in the photo might be...
0 Both rams
1 One ram, one female sheep
1 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 0 sheep
1.5 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 0.5 sheep
2 Two animals of species 'sheep'
2 Two female sheep
2 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep
2 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep
2 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep
2.5 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0.5 sheep
2.5 + 0.5 Two female sheep, both pregnant) (disequals '3 sheep')
3 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 1 sheep
4 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetus' = 1 sheep each
...so as we can see, when tinkering with data, a
LOT depends on how we define the terms.
...so as we can see, when tinkering with data, a
LOT depends on how we define the terms.
A lot also depends on the depth of the data we
have to work with: we know that these two
animals will be either
- female or male
- pregnant or not pregnant
...but the (visual) data provided by the photo
can't tell us which is which.
Data can be very misleading, too: if someone
tells you authoritatively 'there are two sheep in
the field', they're probably right.
But which two sheep do they mean?
2 Two animals of species 'sheep'
2 Two female sheep
2 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep
2 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep
2 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep
...and could they inadvertently be counting
different types of 'two sheep' the same way?
What's the point of sheep?
What's the point of sheep?
Sheep are cute and fluffy and fun to chase.
But when we collect data on sheep, we're
usually doing so for a specific purpose.
Like, for example, getting a better wool yield.
There are lots of ways of increasing wool yield:
- giving the sheep better grazing pastures
- controlling their parasites
- vaccinating them
...but not weighing them.
You can't make a sheep produce more wool by
weighing it.
Weighing sheep is necessary if you want data
about sheep weight.
But data by itself doesn't actually do anything.
Weighing sheep is necessary if you want data
about sheep weight.
But data by itself doesn't actually do anything.
When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately
transformed into information, it becomes useful...
Weighing is necessary if you want data about
sheep weight.
But data by itself doesn't actually do anything.
When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately
transformed into information, it becomes useful...
But 'being useful' is not the same as 'being used'.
Weighing is necessary if you want data about
sheep weight.
But data by itself doesn't actually do anything.
When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately
transformed into information, it becomes useful...
But 'being useful' is not the same as 'being used'.
Data is not an end in itself.
Neither is information.
The point where data finally becomes useful is
when we take the insights from the information
we've learned and apply it back to the thing we
want to improve.
The point where data finally becomes useful is
when we take the insights from the information
we've learned and apply it back to the thing we
want to improve.
Data
Information
Change in practice
Better outcomes
+
=
(Now replace 'sheep' with 'British students'
and 'wool yield' with 'better A level results
in Maths'.)
(You get the idea.)
This is all well and good, but clearly, getting
good, useful information out of data so that
people can use it to make things better is not
an easy task.
It can be time consuming, highly skilled, and
expensive.
So who is going to do the work?
If you give us data to play with,
Developers will! Developers are lovely people who like to
spend their time making things that they think will help
other people.
Some of us do it for fun. Some of us do it for big
companies. And some of us build entire SMEs out of
making data useful!
we will do all the
work!
And one last thing...
"Transparency Drives
Prosperity"
...now who said that?
"Transparency Drives
Prosperity"
...now who said that?
Open Data White Paper: Unleashing the
Potential (28 June 2012)
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-
library/open-data-white-paper-unleashing-
potential
Zoë
baby
(not a
sheep)
Thanks!
Zoë Rose
zoe.f.rose@gmail.com
@z_rose
http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoerose
Originally presented by Zoë Rose
at Young Rewired State open data hack day, 7 July 2012 http://hacks.rewiredstate.org/events/npd2012
(Basically I didn't have anything built that actually worked, so I showed the audience - including
Michael Gove - some pictures of sheep instead.)

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Destaque

Open Data France, example of project worth expanding
Open Data France, example of project worth expandingOpen Data France, example of project worth expanding
Open Data France, example of project worth expandingliberTIC
 
Language translators
Language translatorsLanguage translators
Language translatorsAditya Sharat
 
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio Yonetimi
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio YonetimiSoftexpert Proje ve Portfolio Yonetimi
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio YonetimiHydron Consulting Grup
 
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoán
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoánĐại cương về thị trường chứng khoán
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoánguest3c41775
 
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩu
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩuMarketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩu
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩuguest3c41775
 
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots Workshop 6feb10
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots   Workshop 6feb10Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots   Workshop 6feb10
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots Workshop 6feb10mhielkema
 
Time_Machine_Voice
Time_Machine_VoiceTime_Machine_Voice
Time_Machine_VoiceKruszewski
 
Certificates of conformity
Certificates of conformityCertificates of conformity
Certificates of conformityJana Perackova
 
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)Tony Machin
 
How Encryption For Strong Security Works
How Encryption For Strong Security WorksHow Encryption For Strong Security Works
How Encryption For Strong Security Worksguestf50fcba
 
National smart grid_mission_om
National smart grid_mission_omNational smart grid_mission_om
National smart grid_mission_omKrishna Ambatipudi
 
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahono
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahonopresentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahono
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahonomuhammadtajuddin
 
Interactive Cloth Simulation
Interactive Cloth SimulationInteractive Cloth Simulation
Interactive Cloth Simulationguestcdaa770
 
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI community
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI communityEpsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI community
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI communityliberTIC
 

Destaque (19)

Open Data France, example of project worth expanding
Open Data France, example of project worth expandingOpen Data France, example of project worth expanding
Open Data France, example of project worth expanding
 
Language translators
Language translatorsLanguage translators
Language translators
 
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio Yonetimi
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio YonetimiSoftexpert Proje ve Portfolio Yonetimi
Softexpert Proje ve Portfolio Yonetimi
 
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoán
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoánĐại cương về thị trường chứng khoán
Đại cương về thị trường chứng khoán
 
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩu
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩuMarketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩu
Marketing trong hoạt động xuất khẩu
 
Him Reak
Him ReakHim Reak
Him Reak
 
Busiess1
Busiess1Busiess1
Busiess1
 
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots Workshop 6feb10
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots   Workshop 6feb10Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots   Workshop 6feb10
Uneto Vni 1e Concepten Industrie Hotspots Workshop 6feb10
 
Time_Machine_Voice
Time_Machine_VoiceTime_Machine_Voice
Time_Machine_Voice
 
Certificates of conformity
Certificates of conformityCertificates of conformity
Certificates of conformity
 
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)
DB&T 2009 Presentation on 24.11.09 (Tony Machin)
 
How Encryption For Strong Security Works
How Encryption For Strong Security WorksHow Encryption For Strong Security Works
How Encryption For Strong Security Works
 
National smart grid_mission_om
National smart grid_mission_omNational smart grid_mission_om
National smart grid_mission_om
 
Business Plan
Business PlanBusiness Plan
Business Plan
 
The Road to Berchtesgaden
The Road to Berchtesgaden The Road to Berchtesgaden
The Road to Berchtesgaden
 
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahono
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahonopresentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahono
presentasi media pembelajaran mr. Wahono
 
Cheshire AV 1.21.10
Cheshire AV 1.21.10Cheshire AV 1.21.10
Cheshire AV 1.21.10
 
Interactive Cloth Simulation
Interactive Cloth SimulationInteractive Cloth Simulation
Interactive Cloth Simulation
 
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI community
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI communityEpsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI community
Epsiplatform and Erasmus - Building the PSI community
 

Último

Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdf
Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdfLike-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdf
Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdfMr Bounab Samir
 
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPT
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPTECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPT
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPTiammrhaywood
 
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptx
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptxECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptx
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptxiammrhaywood
 
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...Jisc
 
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdf
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdfACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdf
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdfSpandanaRallapalli
 
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERP
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERPHow to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERP
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERPCeline George
 
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERP
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERPWhat is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERP
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERPCeline George
 
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTS
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTSGRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTS
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTSJoshuaGantuangco2
 
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Celine George
 
Full Stack Web Development Course for Beginners
Full Stack Web Development Course  for BeginnersFull Stack Web Development Course  for Beginners
Full Stack Web Development Course for BeginnersSabitha Banu
 
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatEarth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatYousafMalik24
 
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️9953056974 Low Rate Call Girls In Saket, Delhi NCR
 
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginners
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginnersDATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginners
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginnersSabitha Banu
 
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptxmary850239
 
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4MiaBumagat1
 
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptx
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptxScience 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptx
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptxMaryGraceBautista27
 

Último (20)

Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdf
Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdfLike-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdf
Like-prefer-love -hate+verb+ing & silent letters & citizenship text.pdf
 
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPT
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPTECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPT
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - LONG FORM TV DRAMA - PPT
 
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptx
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptxECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptx
ECONOMIC CONTEXT - PAPER 1 Q3: NEWSPAPERS.pptx
 
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
Difference Between Search & Browse Methods in Odoo 17
 
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...
Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick and painless with our new dynamic...
 
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdf
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdfACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdf
ACC 2024 Chronicles. Cardiology. Exam.pdf
 
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...
HỌC TỐT TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO CHƯƠNG TRÌNH GLOBAL SUCCESS ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT - CẢ NĂ...
 
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERP
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERPHow to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERP
How to do quick user assign in kanban in Odoo 17 ERP
 
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERP
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERPWhat is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERP
What is Model Inheritance in Odoo 17 ERP
 
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTS
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTSGRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTS
GRADE 4 - SUMMATIVE TEST QUARTER 4 ALL SUBJECTS
 
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17
How to Add Barcode on PDF Report in Odoo 17
 
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
 
LEFT_ON_C'N_ PRELIMS_EL_DORADO_2024.pptx
LEFT_ON_C'N_ PRELIMS_EL_DORADO_2024.pptxLEFT_ON_C'N_ PRELIMS_EL_DORADO_2024.pptx
LEFT_ON_C'N_ PRELIMS_EL_DORADO_2024.pptx
 
Full Stack Web Development Course for Beginners
Full Stack Web Development Course  for BeginnersFull Stack Web Development Course  for Beginners
Full Stack Web Development Course for Beginners
 
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatEarth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
 
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
 
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginners
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginnersDATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginners
DATA STRUCTURE AND ALGORITHM for beginners
 
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx
4.18.24 Movement Legacies, Reflection, and Review.pptx
 
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4
ANG SEKTOR NG agrikultura.pptx QUARTER 4
 
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptx
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptxScience 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptx
Science 7 Quarter 4 Module 2: Natural Resources.pptx
 

Open data

  • 2. Hello open data fans! Here's a question for you: How many sheep are in the photo on the next slide?
  • 3.
  • 4. Easy - there are two, right? Well, maybe...
  • 5. Either of these sheep could be a ram, which, according to some definitions, is different from a sheep. But you can't tell by looking. Similarly, either could be a female sheep. And a female sheep might be pregnant. Assuming sheep only have one baby sheep at a time (they don't, but anyhow), how many sheep is a fetus? Is it one sheep, half a sheep, zero sheep?
  • 6. So depending on how we define 'sheep', the number of sheep in the photo might be... 0 1 1 1.5 2 2 2 2 2 2.5 2.5 + 0.5 3 4
  • 7. So depending on how we define 'sheep', the number of sheep in the photo might be... 0 Both rams 1 One ram, one female sheep 1 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 0 sheep 1.5 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 0.5 sheep 2 Two animals of species 'sheep' 2 Two female sheep 2 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep 2 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep 2 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep 2.5 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0.5 sheep 2.5 + 0.5 Two female sheep, both pregnant) (disequals '3 sheep') 3 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 1 sheep 4 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetus' = 1 sheep each
  • 8. ...so as we can see, when tinkering with data, a LOT depends on how we define the terms.
  • 9. ...so as we can see, when tinkering with data, a LOT depends on how we define the terms. A lot also depends on the depth of the data we have to work with: we know that these two animals will be either - female or male - pregnant or not pregnant ...but the (visual) data provided by the photo can't tell us which is which.
  • 10. Data can be very misleading, too: if someone tells you authoritatively 'there are two sheep in the field', they're probably right. But which two sheep do they mean? 2 Two animals of species 'sheep' 2 Two female sheep 2 One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep 2 Two female sheep, one pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep 2 Two female sheep, both pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep ...and could they inadvertently be counting different types of 'two sheep' the same way?
  • 11. What's the point of sheep?
  • 12. What's the point of sheep? Sheep are cute and fluffy and fun to chase. But when we collect data on sheep, we're usually doing so for a specific purpose. Like, for example, getting a better wool yield.
  • 13.
  • 14. There are lots of ways of increasing wool yield: - giving the sheep better grazing pastures - controlling their parasites - vaccinating them
  • 15. ...but not weighing them. You can't make a sheep produce more wool by weighing it.
  • 16. Weighing sheep is necessary if you want data about sheep weight. But data by itself doesn't actually do anything.
  • 17. Weighing sheep is necessary if you want data about sheep weight. But data by itself doesn't actually do anything. When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately transformed into information, it becomes useful...
  • 18. Weighing is necessary if you want data about sheep weight. But data by itself doesn't actually do anything. When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately transformed into information, it becomes useful... But 'being useful' is not the same as 'being used'.
  • 19. Weighing is necessary if you want data about sheep weight. But data by itself doesn't actually do anything. When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately transformed into information, it becomes useful... But 'being useful' is not the same as 'being used'. Data is not an end in itself. Neither is information.
  • 20. The point where data finally becomes useful is when we take the insights from the information we've learned and apply it back to the thing we want to improve.
  • 21. The point where data finally becomes useful is when we take the insights from the information we've learned and apply it back to the thing we want to improve. Data Information Change in practice Better outcomes
  • 22. + =
  • 23. (Now replace 'sheep' with 'British students' and 'wool yield' with 'better A level results in Maths'.) (You get the idea.)
  • 24. This is all well and good, but clearly, getting good, useful information out of data so that people can use it to make things better is not an easy task. It can be time consuming, highly skilled, and expensive. So who is going to do the work?
  • 25. If you give us data to play with, Developers will! Developers are lovely people who like to spend their time making things that they think will help other people. Some of us do it for fun. Some of us do it for big companies. And some of us build entire SMEs out of making data useful! we will do all the work!
  • 26. And one last thing...
  • 28. "Transparency Drives Prosperity" ...now who said that? Open Data White Paper: Unleashing the Potential (28 June 2012) http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource- library/open-data-white-paper-unleashing- potential
  • 30. Originally presented by Zoë Rose at Young Rewired State open data hack day, 7 July 2012 http://hacks.rewiredstate.org/events/npd2012 (Basically I didn't have anything built that actually worked, so I showed the audience - including Michael Gove - some pictures of sheep instead.)

Notas do Editor

  1. How many sheep in this picture? Easy - there are two, right? Well, maybe... Either of these sheep could be a ram, which, according to some definitions, is different from a sheep. But you can't tell by looking. Similiarly, either could be a ewe. And a ewe might be pregnant. Assuming sheep only have one baby sheep at a time (they don't, but anyhow), how many sheep is a fetus? Is it one sheep, half a sheep, no sheep? And what if the fetus is a ram? So depending on how we define 'sheep', the number of sheep in the photo might be... 0 1 1.5 2 2 2 2.5 2.5 + 0.5 3 4 So depending on how we define 'sheep', the number of sheep in the photo might be... 0 (both rams) 1 (one ram, one female sheep) 1 (one ram, one pregnant female sheep - but we don't count the fetus) 1.5 (one ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 0.5 sheep) 2 (two animals of species 'sheep') 2 (two female sheep) 2 (One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep) 2 (Two female sheep, one of which is pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep) 2 (Two female sheep, both of which are pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep) 2.5 (Two female sheep, one of which is pregnant - the fetus = 0.5 sheep) 2.5 + 0.5 (Two female sheep, both of which are pregnant) (note: not the same as '3 sheep') 3 (Two female sheep, one of which is pregnant - the fetus = 1 sheep) 4 (Two female sheep, both of which are pregnant - the fetus' = 1 sheep each) ...so as we can see, when tinkering with data, a LOT depends on how we define the terms. A lot also depends on the depth of the data we have to work with - we know that these two animals will be either female or male, and either pregnant or not pregnant, but the data provided by the photo can't tell us which is which. Data can be dangerous this way: if someone tells you 'there are two sheep in the photo', it's easy to conclude that it's a simple answer. Data can be dangerous this way: if someone tells you authoritatively 'there are two sheep in the field', it's easy to conclude that they're right. But which two sheep do they mean? 2 (two animals of species 'sheep') 2 (two female sheep) 2 (One ram, one pregnant female sheep - the fetus = 1 sheep) 2 (Two female sheep, one of which is pregnant - the fetus = 0 sheep) 2 (Two female sheep, both of which are pregnant - the fetuses = 0 sheep) Sheep: what's the point? Sure, sheep are fun and cute and make adorable noises. But when we collect data on sheep, we're usually doing so for a specific purpose - like, for example, getting a better yield of wool. There are lots of ways of increasing wool yield - giving the sheep better grazing pastures, controlling their parasites, vaccinating them... ...but not weighing them. You can't make a sheep grow more wool by weighing it. Weighing is necessary to get data. But data by itself doesn't actually do anything. When the data is coaxed, crunched, and ultimately transformed into information, it becomes useful... But even then, it still doesn't actually do anything! It's just a chart/report/graph/etc. Collecting data is not an end in itself. Converting data to information is not an end in itself either. The point where data finally becomes useful is when we take the insights from the information we've learned and apply it back to the sheep. That's how we can get an enhanced wool yield. Data -> Information -> Change in practice -> Better outcomes (Now replace 'sheep' with 'British students' and 'wool yield' with 'better A level results in Maths'.) But making sense of data is a huge job - Who will do it? We will!