Future of Database Research is excellent, but what is the future of data?

Even though the esteemed group chose not to invite me :), it is hard for me to disagree with the conclusions in this report.  It captures exactly the right thoughts, and should be a must read for everyone involved in the area of databases and database research in particular.

But today I want to address a different topic -- the democratization of information.  Ever since I attended the Linked Data Planet conference, I got a religion.  Not one of strict linking -- that is fine, and see my other posts on my views there.  But really of "open data".  Many many forms of data are now available on the web.  US Census information.  Indian Census information.  Wikipedia's Infobox.  Country Facts.  They are available in linkeddata form, such as linked open data, but they are also available in xls, in csv, in <tr> forms in html; they are everywhere.  There are brokers of these information -- strikeiron, melissadata.  They are free to use, or absolutely not free to use. 

To me, this is the real transformation.  Not just the future of database research, but the future of data.

Comments

[Bob Brauer]

I totally concur. What needs to happen is a reduction of friction to access all of the data sources all over the Web. Each one can't be a separate integration or it will never work. That's what we are trying to do at StrikeIron, eliminate all of this friction with interface, behavior, response, and business model consistency.