Some of the oldest data we have is being digitized in very new, excited ways. Things like geneology records, property records, newspaper archives, and oil well drilling sites are all available thanks to the state of Texas.

Michael Edson from the Smithsonian Institute presented a very similar view to what I heard in the presentation on open healthcare data; we need to make the data available to the public and then turn to the public for help with innovation. The best developers will never work within the Smithsonian’s walls, but if the Smithsonian frees up the data for public use, they become the conduit or catalyst for innovation by the public sector.

image of: Phillyhistory.org