Want to map the Coalition's ties to News International? Ask a young programmer, writes Henry Warren
The UK future geek superstars have been unearthed, mentored, celebrated, and rewarded during a week-long government data-hack event, run by Rewired State across the country lat week… And blimey was it good!
Friday's setting was Microsoft’s Victoria (London) office which played host to final presentations of Young Rewired State (YRS), a brilliant initiative headed up by Emma Mulqueeny. For those of you new to YRS, let me explain...
Once a year a competition is opened to UK youngsters aged 8 to 18. Those who take part spend a week working under the (mostly) hands-off tutelage of a series of web agencies who kindly volunteer their time. Together they design astonishing new web and mobile applications that utilise data freely available on the web – from the NHS, Olympics, TFL (transport for London), the Home Office and many others.
The standard of work that the young people created was stunning. Some truly innovative applications were showcased. These included a mobile tool that allowed users to instantly check the hygiene levels of the nearby restaurants, adding the data to Google Maps and pulling in the contact details from BT (presumably so you can inform them you’ll only want a table after they learn how to clean them?).
Then there was the website for booking appointments with GPs, detailing their surgery locations, hours and tracking prescriptions. This was a tool created free of charge, in a week, by children, one which arguably achieved more than the aborted £6.4bn NHS Database had done.
Then there were the data-presentation tools -– the first, mapping Ofsted school inspection ratings juxtaposed over areas of social deprivation, delivered results that were scarily predictable. However combining data on income and happiness (taken from Twitter keywords) makes for very interesting and surprising reading!
A tool for visually mapping pedestrian flow to prevent overcrowding at the Olympics?
But wait there was more. How about a browser extension that enables you to create a QR code for any webpage? Or a tool for visually mapping pedestrian flow to prevent overcrowding at the Olympics? Or perhaps an interactive visual representation of the Coalition Government’s ties to News International? All make for very interesting reading. The list goes on. Each idea as cooler as the next.
It’s easy to look at these projects and focus on the final products. However the real value is in the learning experience and the way it is designed. There are many lessons we can take away from this programme to emulate wherever possible:
- It was real, with a genuine purpose
Educators take note. This was not an exercise, not something that had been repeated year on year with identical results. This was real data from real people generating real results. It was great to see how many of the applications were socially minded too. Pupils are very cognisant of the issues facing society and they are keen to address them. Giving them a real outlet to do so was both empowering and motivating. - It involved collaboration among the pupils and input from industry
Very few of the projects were done in isolation, most were team efforts. The cameraderie between teams was palpable. Many of the stronger designers worked across various projects sharing tips, code libraries and skills. Having seen hundreds of, frankly, dire work experience schemes, it’s nice to see it done properly. Not patronising or menial; it was focused, collaborative and fun – for everyone. - It played to their passions
Listening to the pupils it’s clear that many of them are deeply passionate about their projects, the technology and the needs they had identified. The standard of the presentations they gave was testament to this passion. One of the judges (Mike Butcher of TechCrunch Europe) commented that he thought they were "better than the apprentice”.
Next year will see the YRS enter its fourth year and I am sure that its growth will continue. If you’d like to enter some of your pupils, then please follow this link. I have no doubt they will thank you for it.
As I travelled home I Googled the initiative. In its unconscious wisdom, my iPhone auto-corrected my mistyped text to read “Young Inspired State”. For once I couldn’t agree more.
More information
Young Rewired State 2011
Rewired State
Henry Warren is the founder of gemin-i.org and is now head of innovation at GEMS Education.
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