Nov
02
Posted by nwsoadmin on November 2nd, 2011
Posted in: News from NLM
The National Library of Medicine’s software development challenge Show off Your Apps: Innovative Uses of NLM Information solicited applications that used the library’s data to develop innovative ways for people to obtain and share scientific and medical information. Entrants could create a new app, or submit an existing one.
An independent panel of judges chose five winners and five honorable mentions of software applications that help people learn about anatomy, help researchers find gene information in research literature, and help people sift through large amounts of scientific and medical information.
For more than 40 years, the library has been making the data it compiles for its electronic resources available for use in systems produced by others. Academic institutions, government organizations, businesses, non-profits and individuals can use NLM data to develop their own products, tools and services.
“NLM was a leader in open data long before that term was coined,” says Park. “Challenges like this one bring the library’s rich data sources to the attention of new groups of innovators.”
“By making our data available for others to use, we spark more innovation and give taxpayers a bigger dividend on their investment,” says Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., director of the NLM, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.