SIIA Partners with ITIF on Data Innovation Day

SIIA is happy to announce that they will partner with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) for Data Innovation Day, coming tomorrow, January 24, 2013.  Data Innovation Day works to raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities that come from increased use of information both by individuals and the public/private sector.

This year’s theme is “Big Data. Bigger Opportunities.”

As part of Data Innovation Day, ITIF will host panel discussions in DC on how government agencies are using data to make government work more effectively and efficiently, as well as highlighting interesting examples of how data innovation is transforming different sectors of the economy. DMA will also host a virtual event to celebrate data-driven marketing innovation – and to engage data-driven marketers in the growing data debate that is taking shape in Washington and around the world. For more information, visit the Data Innovation Day schedule of events.


Tracy Carlin is a Communications and Public Policy Intern at SIIA. She is also a first year graduate student at Georgetown University’s Communication, Culture and Technology program where she focuses on intersections in education, video games and gender.

CNSX Markets Named Outstanding Data Provider by FISD

FISD presented the 2012 Outstanding Data Provider Award to CNSX  Markets Inc.,  operator of the Canadian National Stock Exchange and Pure Trading. The award was presented at the FISD General Meeting in New York on December 18.

This award was created by the FISD Service Level and Communications Working Group to recognize the exchange or data provider that most closely adheres to the Working Group’s Best Practice Recommendations. These recommendations are guidelines for communication and notification sent by exchanges and information providers to their customers and downstream distribution partners for events such as system upgrades, administrative and policy changes, new product introductions, and unplanned interruptions.

Other nominees for this year’s award were BATS Chi – X Europe, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and Oslo Bors.


Laura Greenback is Communications Director at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Public Policy team at @SIIAPolicy.

What Arthur C. Clarke Imagined: The Intersection of Technology and Content

Keith Cooper, CEO, Connotate, Inc.

Keith Cooper, CEO, Connotate, Inc.

Post by Keith Cooper, CEO, Connotate, Inc.

“Imagine a console in your office that will bring the accumulated knowledge of the world to your fingertips.” This is Arthur C. Clarke’s uncanny prediction, published in an April 1970 Popular Science article by Wernher Von Braun.1The prediction came true-and that console is your Web browser.

What Now?

As we approach the 2013 IIS Conference, much attention will be focused on the constantly evolving intersection of content and technology. As Clarke predicted, the world’s accumulated knowledge is indeed just keystrokes away, but the traditional business model has been to charge for content … and Web data is “free”. What now?

Timeliness-Aggregation-Validity.

If you want to profit from “free” Web content, you need to understand and leverage three salient characteristics of Web data identified by Dave Schubmehl, Research Manager at IDC.

  • Timeliness: If you can consistently capture and disseminate information about market-moving events faster than other content providers, you can charge a premium price. Automating Web site change detection into your workflow can enable this.
  • Aggregation: Leverage the Web’s volume of data. Aggregate and analyze this volume in unique ways to reveal patterns and trends. You can command a pretty penny if you can provide transparency into non-transparent markets, for example.
  • Validity: The Web is filled with spam and bias. Discover and leverage the difference between surface Web(content turned up by Google) and Deep Web (unindexed content) where content is less biased and more valuable, and you’ll uncover revenue potential.

As the CEO of Connotate, I work with established global leaders such as Thomson Reuters and the Associated Press, as well as up-and-coming startups such as Altitude Digital Partners-all of whom have fashioned their own techniques for harnessing Web data profitably by focusing on these three aforementioned characteristics. While I don’t own a crystal ball, I can easily predict that 2013 will reveal new and even more creative and profitable uses of “the world’s accumulated knowledge.”

Looking Ahead

I am constantly amazed at the genius of visionaries such as Arthur C. Clare, Tim Berners-Lee and many others who envisioned the extraordinary power of marrying content and technology to achieve breakthrough results. I anticipate IIS 2013 to be a great opportunity for exploring new and profitable ideas in content delivery.

1. Von Braun, Wernher. “TV Broadcast Satellite,” Popular Science, May 1970, pp. 65-66.

 

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Key Case on Access to State Data

At a time when there are overwhelming reports citing the opportunities of data to revolutionize how we do business, communicate and live our lives, there is a major battle taking place in the courts regarding access to state public records information.  As surprising as it may seem, the case of McBurney v. Young promises to determine whether a state may preclude citizens of other states from accessing public records that the state affords its own citizens.  Last Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of the case.  In August, SIIA joined with a Coalition of companies and association in filing a brief urging that a state’s restriction of access to public data is violation of Constitution’s commerce clause and would have a chilling effect on the flow of critical public records data and the innovation that can be derived from them.

Of course, this isn’t a new issue.  For years SIIA and other advocates of access to public records data have been vigilant in combatting state laws and policies that preclude access to public data.  What is surprising is that this case comes now, at a time when there is broad recognition of the opportunities provided by “big data.”  Just last month, the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) released a report citing the opportunity for states in data analytics:

State government may be described as an enormous data generation engine. And the sky is the limit in terms future data generation based on the growth in mobile applications, sensors, cloud services and the growing public-private partnerships that must be monitored for performance and service levels. The challenge is that many state government agencies are still being run as islands of information versus members of a single state government enterprise. The result is state government is not fully exploiting the data it has at hand.

And the report goes on to say that:

Enterprise architecture becomes even more important as the organizational structure of government encompasses more public-private partnering.

So at a time when states should be capitalizing on the benefits of the data they collect, Virginia and other states are living in the past, trying to hold their data close and restrict access for no good reason.  Lets hope the Supreme Court gets this one right, or the roadmap could be set for states to keep driving around in the dark.


David LeDuc is Senior Director, Public Policy at SIIA. He focuses on e-commerce, privacy, cyber security, cloud computing, open standards, e-government and information policy.

Eight Leading Database Companies to be Recognized at DataContent

The SIIA Content Division today announced that eight leading database companies have been selected to present at the 20th annual DataContent Conference , which takes place October 9- 11 in Philadelphia.  The eight companies will be recognized as part of the Models of Excellence – a program that identifies products  that are revolutionizing the information industry by bringing data to life in new ways.

DataContent 2012, produced in partnership with the InfoCommerce Group, is the only conference devoted solely to producers of commercial data products. For the complete schedule of events, visit http://www.siia.net/datacontent/2012/schedule.asp.  For more information or to register for the conference, members of the media should contact Beth Dozier at bethdozier@rational360.com.

The following Models of Excellence companies will be recognized  throughout DataContent 2012 and honored during a special dinner on October 10.  Each company has set new standards for innovation in developing and applying data-driven business models.

  • Bundle  is a true pioneer in turning Big Data into a high-value data product. By turning anonymous credit transactions into unbiased reviews of retail establishments, Bundle helps consumers make smart buying decisions based on objective analysis. They’ve made an impressive start to bringing hard data to the business of business reviews.
  • CapLinked leapfrogs the existing virtual data room services by providing a platform that is social, viral, mobile, affordable, and easy to use. CapLinked equips small- to medium-size companies with the same ability to raise capital, manage M&A transactions, and handle investor reporting that was once only available to big players. They have grown 6,000% in the last year and are assembling a community that represents the economic powerhouses of the future.
  • eGordian - eGordian represents a disruptive new entrant into the field of construction price data, all based on data collected in the course of its other business activities. As it builds out community-driven features that will let users provide feedback on various materials and suppliers, offer advice, share plans and designs, suggest industry methods and use tools developed through partnerships with other companies, it will become a central industry resource. And that is the sweet spot for any b2b publisher.
  • GovTrak addresses an increasingly important and complex challenge: finding, understanding, and tracking government legislation. GovTrak is a well-executed example of how the combination of data, tools, and analytics can deliver power to those who are seeking the truth.
  • InfoArmy revolutionizes how a content company is built by marshaling two of the industry’s most powerful trends: crowdsourcing and community. Success is participatory, self-managed and self-reinforcing. InfoArmy is a true example of content unbound – non-bureaucratic, collaborative and exponential.
  • Reachable does amazing things with graph technology and mashups of various contact lists enabling what it calls “social proximity selling,” where sales people can use identified “connection paths” to reach specific prospects. It is particularly powerful for larger organizations as a tool for co-workers to leverage each other’s connections. Reachable is a very distinctive offering with its own specialized functionality and value proposition.
  • RedBeacon has reset the bar on lead generation by investing lots of effort to customize the negotiating and selecting experience, providing a highly-secure bid process, and even accommodating non-standard service requests. The real product RedBeacon has produced is trust, and they reap the rewards by keeping themselves firmly in the middle of all transactions.
  • Speakerfile goes beyond a passive database by matching relevant speakers and events, and offers a private communications platform to keep communications out of its users’ cluttered inboxes. Speakerfile organizes a formerly fractured and inefficient business activity by combining a marketplace model with strong content management and workflow functionality to create a useful, high-value service.

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager of the SIIA Content Division. Contact Kathy at kgsexton@siia.net.

DataContent 2012 to Take Place Oct. 9-11 in Philadelphia

SIIA will host the 20th annual DataContent Conference October 9-10 in Philadelphia, in partnership with InfoCommerce Group. The event is the only conference devoted solely to producers of commercial data products. DataContent offers a deep and highly focused discussion of business information and attracts many of the leading players driving the commercial data industry.

DataContent 2012 will focus on why the data business is the hottest segment of the information industry and identify the most profitable trends to help executives pinpoint new business opportunities. Conference highlights include:

Keynote from Jim Swift, President and CEO of Cortera
Swift will discuss the evolution of community-based content, which has transformed a wide range of industries, and what the future community-based assets will look like and achieve.

Executive Panels on Data Trends & Innovations
DataContent 2012 will also include a number of executive panels about the increasing role of commercial data – both Big Data and small, specialized datasets, known as “Little Data” – as well as emerging innovations in data analytics that are driving business growth for many publishers.

Model of Excellence Awards
This exclusive awards program honors leading database producers that are revolutionizing the industry and bringing data to life. Throughout the conference, DataContent 2012 will spotlight this year’s honorees as well as past winners.

Register online or view the complete schedule of events.


Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager of the SIIA Content Division. Contact Kathy at kgsexton@siia.net.

Models Of Excellence: Innovation Around Content and Data

I’m pleased to introduce you to this year’s Model of Excellence recipients. The Models of Excellence program highlights young companies that are industry “exemplars,” setting standards for innovation in application, business, and content models. Each company is diligently reviewed and selected by our DataContent partner, the InfoCommerce Group. Honorees will be announced during the Model of Excellence Dinner during DataContent 2012.

This year’s Model of Excellence recipients:

  • Bundle is a true pioneer in turning Big Data into a high-value data product. By turning anonymous credit transactions into unbiased reviews of retail establishments, Bundle helps consumers make smart buying decisions based on objective analysis. They’ve made an impressive start to bringing hard data to the business of business reviews.
  • Caplinked leapfrogs the existing virtual data room services by providing a platform that is social, viral, mobile, affordable, and easy to use. Caplinked equips small- to medium-size companies with the same ability to raise capital, manage M&A transactions, and handle investor reporting that was once only available to big players. They have grown 6,000% in the last year and are assembling a community that represents the economic powerhouses of the future.
  • GovTrak addresses an increasingly important and complex challenge: finding, understanding, and tracking government legislation. GovTrak is a well-executed example of how the combination of data, tools, and analytics can deliver power to those who are seeking the truth.
  • InfoArmy revolutionizes how a content company is built by marshaling two of the industry’s most powerful trends: crowdsourcing and community. Success is participatory, self-managed and self-re-enforcing. InfoArmy is a true example of content unbound – non-bureaucratic, collaborative and exponential.
  • Reachable does amazing things with graph technology and mashups of various contact lists enabling what it calls “social proximity selling,” where sales people can use identified “connection paths” to reach specific prospects. It is particularly powerful for larger organizations as a tool for co-workers to leverage each other’s connections. Reachable is a very distinctive offering with its own specialized functionality and value proposition.
  • Speakerfile transforms the way companies connect their experts to the global market by combining a marketplace model with a dynamic visual search experience, as well as strong content management and workflow functionality. The expert visibility platform helps thousands of event organizers, media, and potential customers discover, evaluate, and connect with thought leaders around the world. Speakerfile has created a useful, high-value service for organizations to help achieve or maintain eminence in their industries.
  • RedBeacon has reset the bar on lead generation by investing lots of effort to customize the negotiating and selecting experience, providing a highly-secure bid process, and even accommodating non-standard service requests. The real product RedBeacon has produced is trust, and they reap the rewards by keeping themselves firmly in the middle of all transactions.

Don’t miss the Models of Excellence Dinner, and the complete DataContent conference. Register now to join us as we explore the intersection of Data, Communities, and Markets. (You’ll save with early-bird rates, but only through Monday, September 10.)