As I Might Find...

Recent developments in internet technologies over the past few years make it feasible to build an online visualisation service which would help citizens to find, explore, understand and re-use data made available by the government. Instead of visualisations generated by others to illustrate particular reports, data could be displayed in accordance with the interests of the user. Hence the user could see data from their region in national context, grasp the background to specific policies relevant to them more concretely and posit trends and patterns for themselves. The service would allow citizens to navigate through and engage with government information on their own terms by helping them to generate visual representations for themselves, by themselves.

The idea relates to the provision and improved utilisation of garden allotments. There are more people applying for allotments than local councils can provide. Very often people applying for an allotment do not realise the commitment that will be needed to maintain their plot of land; how much work is required and what skill and knowledge will be needed. This idea is about matching people from a waiting list with existing allotment holders, exploiting opportunities for experienced but perhaps elderly gardeners to share their knowledge and skill in return for assistance from new would-be allotment holders.

A public API of all roadworks would be made available that allows other organisations to build alert systems. For example, TomTom might use the API to include roadworks in their navigation products, Nokia might take the data to give location aware alerts via their mobile phones, local press could use the API to list local roadworks.

Just text your location (“postcode” or “street name”) to a free call number or visit the website. You will get an answer giving you information about the nearest public toilet.

When you’re new to an area and don’t know where to post your letters in the immediate locality. Helps everyone! My daughter phoned the Post Office when she moved, and even they couldn’t tell her where her nearest postbox was.

Schools finders” are all very well. They show where schools are in relation to where you live. But what prospective parents really want to know is “what’s its catchment area?

My idea is to have a one-stop-shop website which any user can access to plan their cycling route.

This would not be only for people wanting road routes such as myself but also cycling enthusiasts who cycle off road in their spare time.

My idea is to have a site where you look up not only existing information but also to use the concepts of ‘neogeography’ to allow users to plot their own favourite routes or existing cycle lanes they are aware of on roads which do not already show on the site.

Very simply, I envisage a website that allows the user to input their postcode, and which would then help them to know what they can recycle.

Very simply, I envisage a website that allows the user to input their postcode, and which would then help them to know what they can recycle.