1. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk Understanding And Exploiting Web 2.0: What Do We Mean By Openness? Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath Email B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk UKOLN is supported by: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/stimulate-2006/talk-openness/ About This Talk In this talk you will hear about the relevance of openness to Web users and developers, including open standards, open source and open access and how this relates to a culture of openness. About This Talk In this talk you will hear about the relevance of openness to Web users and developers, including open standards, open source and open access and how this relates to a culture of openness. This work is licensed under a Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat) Resources bookmarked using 'stimulate-2006-web2.0' tag

2. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Contents Open Standards Open Source The benefits and possible pitfalls A model for use of open source Open Access The benefits for higher education Open Content Creative Commons Let's do it! Open Data Science Commons “Free Our Data” A Model For Openness Beware the fundamentalist A risk assessment approach A user-focussed model for openness

3. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Open Standards We’ve heard about: The benefits which open standards aim to provide Some of the difficulties in making use of open standards A contextual approach to open standards based on: A user-focussed approach to open standards Advocacy of potential benefits of open standards A pragmatic approach to selection of open standards Can this model be applied in related areas: Open source software Open access Creative Commons & Science Commons Openness for our users Open Standards

4. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Open Source: A Definition What is Open Source? It’s very simple - the licence is what determines whether software is open source Purists argue that:  The licence must be approved by the Open Source Initiative (www.opensource.org)  All approved licences meet their Open Source Definition (www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php) Approved licences >50 and include the GPL, LGPL, MPL and BSD. Open Source Material based on OSS Watch slides

5. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Open Source In Practice Open source means: Source code is available to the end-user Source code can be modified by the end-user Licensing conditions promote re-use and wide availability of the software Cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal Open source software is not the same as free software but there is a large overlap “Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement.'’ The Free Software Foundation maintains a Free Software Definition (www.fsf.org) Open Source Material based on OSS Watch slides Open Source

6. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 Open Source: The Challenges Although open source software can be great this is no guarantee of quality in itself. Therefore: Consider the reputation Monitor ongoing effort Look at support for standards & interoperability Is there support from the user community? Is commercial support available? Check versions & think carefully about version 1.0 Check the documentation Do you have the required skills? Does the software have the required functionality? Open Source Taken from QA Focus briefing document no. 60 Open Source

7. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Open Access The research community: Carries out research, often publicly-funded Submits research papers to journals, which often have editorial boards composed of other academics Other academics peer-review papers Authors often have to assign copyright to publishers Libraries forced to buy journals at high cost We pay commercial publishers (a lot of money) for materials we’ve created from public funds  : Open access movement seeking to address this imbalance Creation of e-print repositories of research content Accompanying developing of software & standards (e.g. OAI-PMH) Open Content

8. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Creative Commons Creative Commons: Recognises importance of existing copyright legislation … … and build on this by allowing copyright owners to exercise their rights by allowing others to: Use, modify resources subject, if desired, to various conditions (attribution, non-commercial, …) Now has legal status in UK Open Content Note also Science Commons approach for open access to data

9. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Using Creative Commons Creative Commons licences can be used: Blog postings, RSS feeds, Wiki pages to help clarify reuse of such resources On PowerPoint slides … Open Content Let's Free IT Support Materials! Paper by Kelly, Knight, Casey & Guy given at EUNIS 2005 conference Described business reasons for CC licences for QA Focus documents (see QA For Web handbook) to maximise impact of work & support take-up of ideas) Argued that support services should provide CC licences on their documents, training materials, etc. An opportunity for you! Open Content

10. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Open Data (1) Science Commons Promote science by lowering costs of sharing scientific data http://sciencecommons.org/ http://www.freeourdata.org.uk/ Free Our Data Guardian-led campaign Your Views Absolutely – and relates to other aspects of openness Thatcherite trick to reduce public investment – OS maps will be like the trains 

11. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 Open Data (2) Creative Commons doesn’t cover everything e.g. database rights (relevant in Europe) Tais (UK Library vendor) are developing an open licence to permit reuse of data contributed by Talis customers Open Content http://www.talis.com/tdn/tcl

12. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 Web 2.0 Aspect of Web 2.0 include: Reuse of content (syndication, mashups, …) Always beta (sometimes taking a risk) Trust Standards Web services, APIs, … Web 2.0 Web 2.0 applications and openness: Google Maps, GMail, … APIs, RSS, to allow use by others Web 2.0 applications and openness: Google Maps, GMail, … APIs, RSS, to allow use by others Web 2.0 and Openness

13. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 Web 2.0 & Maps University of Northumberland early Google Maps adopters This provides: Overlays Zooming Annotations Personalisation (e.g. from home) Note openness isn't just about open source & standards. It's about: A mixed economy Being user-focussed Risk management … Web 2.0

14. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 Web 2.0 and User Content Traditional views: Web content must be accurate, relevant, readable, trustworthy, on-message, … Therefore need formal publishing processes, approval, … Alternative view: Some resources need formal processes In other cases need to:  Give users a voice  Encourage feedback  Trust users Web 2.0 Web 2.0 and Openness What are your views on potential tensions between management of content & freedom to publish?

15. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Ownership Challenge Traditional View Must own (buy) our mission-critical IT services Open Source Perspective Must/should/can download open source software for our mission-critical IT services Today: Should/ provide an appropriate and sustainable environment for the outcomes of the services The World Is Changing There's a need to revisit these (old and new) orthodoxies. There are risks, but there are also benefits. Organisations are increasingly out-sourcing services (why should we invest in virus scanning software, for example). IT is often innovative, changing existing ways of working – we now need to rethink our own orthodoxies The World Is Changing There's a need to revisit these (old and new) orthodoxies. There are risks, but there are also benefits. Organisations are increasingly out-sourcing services (why should we invest in virus scanning software, for example). IT is often innovative, changing existing ways of working – we now need to rethink our own orthodoxies Ownership Challenges

16. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Risk Management Concerns? I can't use open source software 'cos … But open standards sometimes don't work IPR is scary – what about the risks of Creative Commons, … Bill Gates said "Free Culture advocates = Commies". Is he right? Can I trust Wikipedia, …? What happens if Google goes out of business? Risk Management Valid questions, which need to be addressed Need for a risk assessment/management approach Valid questions, which need to be addressed Need for a risk assessment/management approach Risk Management

17. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 IWMW 2006 & Risk Management IWMW 2006 has taken a risk management approach to its evaluation of Web 2.0 technologies: Agreements: e.g. in the case of the Chatbot. Use of well-established services: Google & del.icio.us are well-established & financially security. Notification: warnings that services could be lost. Engagement: with the user community: users actively engage in the evaluation of the services. Provision of alternative services: multiple OMPL tools. Use in non-mission critical areas: not for bookings! Long term experiences of services: usage stats Availability of alternative sources of data: e.g. standard Web server log files. Data export and aggregation: RSS feeds, aggregated in Suprglu, OPML viewers, etc. Risk Management

18. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 R=AxBxCxD Prof. Charles Oppenheim's (lightweight) formula (for copyright infringements): Risk = A (probability that you're illegal) X B (probability you'll be found out) X C (probability they'll want to do something) X D (extent of financial risk) Risk Management So you're probably OK if: You're legal; they don't know what you've done; they won't bother chasing you or they won't chase you for more than £1,000 So you're probably OK if: You're legal; they don't know what you've done; they won't bother chasing you or they won't chase you for more than £1,000 Risk Management

19. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 R=f(A, B, C, D) Brian Kelly's adaptation to open standards & Web 2.0: Open standards risk (R os ) is a function of: Maturity of standard bodyOSI=100% (ISO) Support within communityOSI=10% (UK HE,..) Commercial take-up, competition,..OSI=1% Architectural meritOSI=1% …. Web 2.0 risk (R web2.0 ) is a function of: Maturity of service provider Risk culture within organisation & members Dangers of data/service loss Significance of loss … Approach reflected in "Matrix for Selection of Standards" and "Top Tips For Selecting Open Source Software" docs & in "Risk Assessment For Making Use Of Web 2.0 Services" Risk Management Example Risk Management Also need to consider R web2.0

20. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 20 Beware The IT Fundamentalist! We need to avoid simplistic solutions to the complexities: Open Standards Fundamentalist: we just need XML Open Source Fundamentalist: we just need Linux Vendor Fundamentalist: we must need next version of our enterprise system (and you must fit in with this) Accessibility Fundamentalist: we must do WAI WCAG Ownership Fundamentalist: must own everything we use User Fundamentalist: we must do whatever users want Legal Fundamentalist: it breaches copyright, … Perfectionist: It doesn't do everything, so we'll do nothing Simplistic Developer: I've developed a perfect solution – I don't care if it doesn't run in the real world User Focus IT Director, March 2006 "I could give names of the individuals in my department!" Risk Management

21. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 21 RANDP There's a need to recognise: Institutional cultures Departmental cultures (e.g. IT services, Marketing, Library and Academics) We also need to recognise personal perspectives (personal beliefs, prejudices, etc.) We need to ensure these are: Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory Prejudices ("No MS cos I don't like Bill Gates" is discriminatory) Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory Preferences is better An open debate about future plans isn't helped by immutable prejudices Risk Management

22. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 22 User-Focussed Approach There is a need for a user-focussed approach to address the benefits & problems if openness, rather than dogma, ideology or political correctness We are 100% committed to open source / access /standards Even if it doesn't work; even if it alienates users? We strive to make use of open source / access / standards in order to provide richly functional, widely accessible & interoperable … for our broad user communities A user-focussed approach, which allows for flexibility of the open stuff doesn't work User Focussed Approach

23. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 23 What Openness is Not IMHO openness is not: An excuse to knock Microsoft, or the commercial company you'd like to knock Getting things for free A simplistic slogan A stepping stone to the eradication of western capitalism Openness is also: Not infallible May need changes in culture, in law, etc. in order to fufill promises

24. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 24 Why Openness? Openness: Reflects our broad educational & research goals (benefits to society, …) Reflects personal beliefs, for many Can bring benefits …..but sometime doesn't So:  Be tolerant  Take a risk assessment approach  But have an open culture Openness helped if we are providers of open resources and not simply consumers  Don't just talk openness, do it!

25. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 25 Let's Do It!! Why us? The Web management community based on trust, openness, collaboration & willingness to experiment Social networks provide exponential benefits as nos. grow (cf. the telephone) What: Contributing to Wikis Using Creative Commons licences on resources Sharing staff development resources; case studies; … Exploiting collaborative software …

26. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 26 Map-A-Campus Day? Background: Northumbria Univ. has campus map available on Google Maps Benefits if all of us did likewise (end users; sharing of best practices, code, etc.; involvement with others e.g. students) http://www.stanford.edu/hpcgi/map/index.pl Ideas Get students (Comp Sci., Geography) with GPS devices mapping buildings, providing metadata. Engage with Google Maps API experts. Discuss best ways of doing this. etc, etc. Ideas Get students (Comp Sci., Geography) with GPS devices mapping buildings, providing metadata. Engage with Google Maps API experts. Discuss best ways of doing this. etc, etc.

27. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 27 Questions Any questions?