WUNRN
GENDER included as thematic resource.
Knowledge is just the beginning … it’s what
you do with it that matters
What?
Introducing the Oriel Open Knowledge Hub
The Oriel Open Knowledge Hub is an Open Data platform for sharing and
downloading digital content about development. The hub is different from other
Open Data initiatives. Existing digital divides could be recreated in an Open
Data environment so a key aspect of the hub’s design is to raise the profile of
diverse perspectives on development, paying particular attention to content
from the South.
The Oriel Open Knowledge Hub can be linked to other Open Knowledge
initiatives and its aim is to improve the supply and accessibility of content
that supports evidence-informed policy making and practice by development
actors. The hub is largely being developed in collaboration with a range
of organisations based in developing countries. It is anticipated that through
peer support and shared learning, IDS and its partners will increase their
capacity to engage and innovate with Open Data and Open Content.
What is it?
The Oriel Open Knowledge Hub is not a website or a portal, like Eldis, or a
search engine, like Google, but it is a free online service for people who
want to share and access Open Content about development. It supports
knowledge producers and intermediaries, particularly those in developing
countries, to improve the availability and accessibility of development
research by developing a new open and collaborative “Hub” for the sharing of
development knowledge, building on emerging approaches from the Open Access and
Open Data movements.
The Hub is primarily a database of open-licensed metadata (bibliographic
data and links) about research documents, organisations, and other materials.
For example, the content Eldis is contributing includes the titles, URLs,
abstracts, keywords, etc, of the research publications that it
summarises on its website. Libraries, such as British Library for
Development Studies contribute their catalogue records about journal articles
that are available online.
For more information about the Hub please see our at a glance guide.
What have we done and what are we doing next?
Current work: Building
content and technology
- Working with content providers to enhance and open
up their content
- Building a first version Open Knowledge
Hub, using open source technology, designed to collate and
share document meta-data in multiple languages
- Upgrading the API and content management system plug-ins
Roadmap: 2014 and beyond
Next steps: By the end of February 2015, the project will:
Refine the Hub in response to user feedback, and expand the facilities
enabling information services to contribute, pull out and re-purpose
content.
Promote and increase use of the API.
Finalise and implement data quality policies and processes.
Expand the range of open data applications and services using Eldis
Communities discussion content
Develop further communications materials
Explore the development of a global “bookmarklet” for universal adding of
content to the Hub