Government seeks information innovation

In a competition with a £20,000 prize fund, the Power of Information Taskforce is looking for improvements in the way information is communicated, according to the BBC.

The joint venture has the potential to deliver innovative renewable energy solutions

Tom Watson

Cabinet Office Minister

To spark a response, the Government is releasing vast amounts of public information, such as NHS medical information, mapping details from the Ordnance Survey and data from the Office for National Statistics.

One example is the FixMyStreet website, which reveals litter, vandalism and graffiti statistics for local areas, while a trial RateMyPrison will ask people who have visited others in jail to comment on it.

Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson said the government wants to work with citizens to improve public service in the digital age.

"If someone comes up with a great idea we will make a prototype and then hopefully a fully-fledged piece of technology that will make peoples' lives better," he told the news provider.

The Power of Information Taskforce was established in March 2008 to look into ways of developing digital media to benefit the government, citizens and businesses.