The OptimalBI team loves open source and is also mad about data. Alison wrote a blog on Open source datasets already, and because there's more options out there, I thought I would give you some more places to get open data from for your various data needs. I have...
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Open Source Datasets
Have you ever needed data for a work or academic project? If so, are there any good sites on the internet where you can easily access data? I have had to complete several projects at work where I had to build reports in various BI tool (Qlik and PowerBI). I needed to...
News and trends in BI and DW – April 2019
Kia ora koutou, This month we have a spotlight on Open Source, our team are passionate about open - Open Data, Open Standards and Open Source. I first worked on an Open Source Linux kernel back in 1989 (showing my age) so have enjoyed watching this space mature and...
A thought or two on bias
If my reading is in any way accurate (my own version of sample preparation bias) there are nearly 200 varieties of bias. What does this say about our decisions made so far? Cognitive bias tricks people into spending money now rather than saving for the unknown...
On witchcraft, Trump and evidentiary standards
In the spring of 1692, the Massachusetts Bay Colony fell victim to a wave of murderous public hysteria that claimed the lives of twenty-five people. It wasn’t until after the Salem Village doctor had already diagnosed the ‘bewitchment’ of two young girls who had been...
"Dick Smith can legally sell customer database" – another blow for Open Data in NZ?
It was very disappointing to read this in the news last week! "Dick Smith can legally sell customer database" followed closely by "Dick Smith customers will be told before private info is sold" Basically, Dicks Smith's receiver has investigated the prospect of...
What do President Obama, the inventor of the Internet and Open Data have in common?
We're still loving our Open Data journey, speaking to organisations helping them understand the possibilities is a really rewarding exercise. It does help that Shaun is an Open Data evangelist and makes it easy to bring people on the journey when he is so passionate,...
Three difficult steps to improving open data in New Zealand
These steps look difficult too. Are we going up or down? Source: Wikipedia (CC BY 2.0) You read that right, the steps are difficult. I'm not going to lie to you! I've written before about the promise and disappointment of open data. To those of us who work with it,...
The world needs more Open Data Hero's – so lets get started
There aren't enough Open Data Hero's in the world yet and the first step in any Hero creation process is education and common understanding - What is Open Data, What Stops Open Data and What Data should be Open? Whether you already are / want to become an Open Data...
Wellington's all about BI Meet Up: Open Data Hacks
People want to be connected to their communities of interest, because we like to get together with people like ourselves. We want opportunities to network, learn new things and catch up with people who share our interests as Victoria writes in this blog. We here at...