Exist

Making open data a priority

Exist is a service that runs on data collected from other sources—the raw ingredients that we prepare and combine to make our delicious insight meals. For each service we support, behind the scenes we connect to their API and regularly import users' data. So it's critical for us that the data is available in the first place!

We get a lot of requests to support particular apps and devices, and while we'd love to say yes to every one, we're reliant on that company to play ball. The Misfit Shine is one of the most popular activity trackers requested, for example, but their data just isn't accessible to anyone else. They've mentioned that an API is coming, but that's all we have to go on. (It's worth noting that Basis has said this for years. Still nothing.) However, I don't want to pick on Misfit in particular, as putting data accessibility and ownership way down the list of priorities is a common issue. It hurts users, stifles innovation, and it can even hurt the service itself. This needs to change.

Personal data should belong to the people

When we talk about services like activity trackers, we're talking about personal, intimate data. You wear a tracker to collect information about what you do as you go about your day. Depending on the tracker, it knows where you go, what you're doing, when you're sleeping and when you're awake, just like Santa. It even knows when you're having a fun time by yourself or having sex. We willingly give these companies access to this intimate information. But why do we allow them to keep it for themselves? Much like citizens are able to request the information that governments know and collect about them, users should be able to request and receive the data they are actively, deliberately creating.

Even if you're not a developer who can make use of your data directly, having control over it is a powerful thing. The European Union recognised this and recently introduced a "right to be forgotten" law. From Wikipedia: "The right to be forgotten manifests itself in allowing individuals to delete information, videos or photographs about themselves from internet records, and thus prevent them from showing up on search engines."

As we create more data about ourselves just by going about our lives, this issue will become more pressing. Until now, we've been content to use our data in ways that services set out for us, but as we become more and more connected we'll need to think more about who owns our data and what that means for us.

When data is open, everyone benefits

When services don't let users access their data, they're limiting it to being only as useful as those services can make it. One of the ways that Twitter grew to where it is today was by allowing developers access to the same data and tools that Twitter themselves used. By encouraging that developer ecosystem, Twitter helped innovation flourish. There were a plethora of clients, analytics, and other tools that Twitter simply would not have had the resources to develop themselves. But by making their API open to everyone, users had the benefit of a rich ecosystem of apps, and Twitter reaped the rewards.

The flipside of this situation is that companies can simply miss out on other opportunities when they hold onto their data through fear. When we recommend activity trackers to our users, we stick with Fitbit and Jawbone UP, as they have solid, reliable APIs that let us make use of their data. Smaller companies building trackers have the opportunity to differentiate and even grab an advantage simply by making all their data open! We'd love to be able to recommend the underdogs because they cared more about empowering their users with data.

Demand your data

Of course, this is all propaganda to some degree. When companies make their data available, not only do they and their users benefit, but of course we benefit as well. But it's bigger than that. We want to encourage open data. We want our users—and everyone!—to access and make use of the data they create.

So when you're shopping for a device or app that creates intimate data about you, remember to ask—do I have access too, or is it locked up in your silo?

The Exist API is in the works, by the way, and you can request a download of your data at any time by emailing us at hello@exist.io.