ToTs & TiPs

PublicBits: Breaking Down Open Data Silos Presented by Karissa McKelvey PublicBits: Breaking Down Open Data Silos [10 - 11:30 AM] Dat is an open source, decentralized data-sharing tool for versioning and syncing data. Inspired by the best parts of Git and BitTorrent, Dat shares data through a free, redundant network that assures the integrity and openness of data. In this talk, we will introduce Dat along with the “PublicBits” distributed network, inspired by BitTorrent but adapted for open data, which will increase the availability and redundancy of data by connecting people who want to download data with those who already have it. PublicBits users may offer their unused bandwidth to mirror their previously-downloaded datasets for others as a public service. This way, if the original source goes offline, the data will still be downloadable. We have started building a search engine called PublicBits.org that will crawl data sources and convert the world's data sources from centralized and siloed servers to a new decentralized data network. Speakers: Karissa McKelvey is a software developer, speaker, inventor, and activist supporting an equitable web. Formerly a research scientist at Indiana University, her work studying online political communication resulted in multiple peer-reviewed papers and press in outlets such as NPR and the Wall Street Journal. In addition to an experienced software and web developer, she has successfully led and implemented diverse projects throughout her career in academia, non-profits, and industry. In her spare time, she teaches beginning programmers, volunteers her time in social movements, and plays the trumpet.