newspeak

An interesting and useful article. But the quoted paragraph below says it all, and also points to the use of “Big Data” or just data—evidence. That is: it can be used to subvert the normal ways in which decisions are made, which appears to be without regard to actuality (the data). The point is not to come up with novel questions leading to novel discoveries, or at least, not here. It is to use the same old questions, and to substantiate the conclusions with data that can be validated. That’s fairly powerful. But, as the question’s tone suggests, it’s also by no means certain that the powers that be will attend to the evidence. And if they do, whether they won’t, as Canada, Australia, or as several states in the US have done, simply stop gathering evidence that would counter the persistence of the desired if not actual world.

Perhaps the next steps are asking how governments who are leading the way in making data-driven decisions can learn from each other, and challenging the perceptions that ‘government’ is resistant to change.After all – government officials, just like us normal folk, are a mixed bunch. Let’s make sure we work with the champions that are there.

Source: Data Driven Decisions: Connecting vulnerable women with health services in Pakistan – Making All Voices Count

I confess I use Slack, like it and feel guilty about all that. I also use more than enough Apple devices and used to feel guilty, until one day, I noted at an Oscon nearly all—!!—the open source developers there were on MacBook Airs. Yes, Oscon is expensive. But it was not the only one. Developers are pragmatic. In fact, that’s why so many like open source and open standards. Makes life easier and also more interesting.

Still, it’s good to see open source alternatives to Slack. Having used nearly all of these, and rather liking IRC, I have to say that Slack is still better. it is less obtrusive, its UI is a pleasure to behold—-and these are not trivial aspects.

Need a team chat application as a part of your collaboration tool suite? Here are five open source chat applications that will help your team stay connected.

Source: Open source chat applications for team collaboration | Opensource.com

Rather more realistic than “psychopath” Hintjens and certainly less self-aggrandising (what is it with these open source mavens?), a piercing look at claim vs reality in Kenya.

From the blurb:

Researcher Nyambura Salome asks whether Kenya’s new e-government platforms have helped to increase citizen engagement with the state – or is it all politics for show?

e-Government platforms for citizen engagement with the state in Kenya

Source: e-Government Platforms Kenya

Source: Ten Rules for Open Source Success – Hintjens.com

The Global Innovation Competition 2016 is calling for entries until October 4th and offers the chance to win a grant from a pool of £450,000.

Source: Global Innovation Competition