TechWire.netOpen Data is Inevitable » TechWire.net

"The afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 22, marked the end of Open DataFest, a two-day symposium held by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Sacramento, Calif., that highlighted the latest developments in government data and urged officials to launch their own open data efforts. The takeaways from the event were diverse and came from government, private and non-profit organizations, each voicing unique perspectives from their particular niches. It could be said that two themes emerged as most prevalent throughout the event, the first being that open data for government is now seen as nearly inevitable considering its benefits. The second was that open data will require a deliberate and wide-sweeping effort across agencies to ensure data is harnessed effectively ... Spradlin, in his Wednesday presentation titled National Open Data Trends and Strategic Goals, referenced a study that estimated big data use could potentially reduce national health care spending by $300 billion to $450 billion per year.  Identifying key drivers of open data, Spradlin said a number of factors are providing the big push. He listed the Affordable Care Act’s shifts in health-care reform and the rise of analytical, evidence-based approaches to health care among top catalysts ..."