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Google Palimpsest: critical step toward transparent government!
By WDavidStephenson | January 31, 2008
Yikes! I’ve been Twittering and sending e-mails about Google Research’s new Palimpsest service (which hasn’t been formally announced, but which Wired wrote about recently, citing sources within Google), but just realized I hadn’t blogged about it!
Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
IMHO, this could be the critical link in achieving the dream I discussed in my November “Transparent Government” speech (and accompanying Federal Computer Week op-ed), of actively involving the general public in public policy discussions, program evaluation, etc. through a combination of:
- data visualization techniques that make vast reams of data comprehensible
- governmental agencies’ willingness to release large amounts of data (preferably on a real-time basis) and to encourage the public to use the visualization tools to examine and interpret the data.
Palimpsest, as Wired previews it, doesn’t include that “transparent government” component, but it sure looks as if it has a parallel vision, and, most important, all the tools and proper attitude      CONTINUED…
Topics: technology, global warming/security, empowering public, avian flu, e-gov transformation, collaboration, networked security | |
