[TCMUG] Web Apps Contest Summary - so far

[Alison Slaats]

Last week Perry asked for a summary of the discussion at the last meeting
about the "open geo apps" contest idea.  Here is a summary of what I heard,
and a couple more updates of developments since then.  

 

In 2008, MetroGIS had a user forum where ideas of services and apps were
discussed.  One need was for more WFS.  The workgroup that formed to work on
WFS discussed how the usual means of getting people/orgs to create, document
and post web services was difficult because often there was no immediate
business incentive to do so.  So, David Fawcett brought forward the idea of
a contest modeled after the Washington DC Apps for Democracy contest
(http://www.appsfordemocracy.org/). This contest cost $50 and resulted in
$2.6M worth of iPhone, Facebook, web etc. apps.

 

The workgroup thought this was a good idea, and took it back to the
Coordinating Committee and Policy Board.  They loved the idea, but thought
it was not fully baked.  So now the next stage is to form another workgroup
to see if there is broader support for this idea.  Groups that were
mentioned were: TCMUG, OSGeo, MnGeo, GIS/LIS .  MetroGIS has  $15K in the
budget for next year - but they want to move forward together with other
organizations to move this forward.

 

At the TCMUG meeting, people seemed to like the idea.  It was mentioned that
this would be a great *low risk* way to evaluate new technology applications
using an organizations data; a good incentive to get services out the door
and documented; a good way to facilitate creation of new and innovative web
applications; and many more reasons.

 

A few people volunteered to be part of the new workgroup - which was great!

 

Since that meeting last week, Sally Wakefield & Alison Slaats met with the
GIS/LIS board to discuss the idea.  They also liked it, and suggested a BOF
meeting at GIS/LIS conference about it.  Perhaps this BOF could be aligned
with the OSGeo BOF, or cover both topics, since I think there is an overlap
there.

 

Here are a few links for background on the DC contest: 

 

(The youtube one is pretty good.)

http://www.appsfordemocracy.org/

http://sunlightlabs.com/contests/appsforamerica2/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAFOABlev3w

http://www.vimeo.com/4450950

 

Please let me know if you have questions about the idea

 

I'd love to hear from those who like to be a part of this workgroup and also
if you think it would be good to have this as a BOF at GISLIS either
combined or separate from the OSGEO/TCMUG one.

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

Alison

 

Alison Slaats

1000 Friends of Minnesota

651-312-1000

 

 

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