Open Tech Calendar

"Standards – who needs them?*" - Julian Tait, Open Data Manchester

*We all do

This talk is about Open Data Manchester’s journey into the open standards for data world, and how once you delve into this nichest of worlds things are never the same again.

It will give an overview of open standards, how we first got involved in them and how we used user research and system analysis to understand the key components needed for the standards we have created and ones in development, that are tackling supply chain data exchange to promote a more resilient and circular economy.

BIO Julian, who began his career as a music photographer, is the co-founder and CEO of Open Data Manchester CIC, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2010. The organisation aims to help communities and organisations better understand and utilise data.

He oversees the development of several open standards for data including: · The Open3P data standard for the packaging value chain, which facilitates t...

It's that time of year when we eagerly anticipate selection boxes appearing on supermarket shelves and under Christmas trees across the land. But what if, instead of delicious chocolates, those thin plastic trays were filled with productivity-enhancing AI tools? Well, that would be disappointing, of course. Who in their right mind prefers software tools over chocolate? However, I'm told we're not here to eat chocolate; we should really be doing stuff with Python, and so...

In this talk, we'll explore a selection of AI tools that have significantly impacted my work. We'll examine various chatbots, LLMs, integrations with existing apps, and fully AI-based applications. We'll discuss how these tools harness AI to boost productivity, creativity, and problem-solving.

I'll share personal experiences, demonstrate how I work with these tools, and consider how these AI assistants are shaping our work. Together, we'll sort the Double Deckers from the Fudges... metaphorically speaking, of c...