The number of technology companies in Bournemouth has risen by 212% between 2013 and 2014, according to reports released by Tech City UK.
The Open Data Lab in Westbourne is just one of these success stories. The Lab operates a free service within the Bournemouth area reviewing mobile phone applications on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 and the Nokia Lumia 820. A unique feature of the Open Data Lab is that it allows members of the public to go in and preview these products before they are released.
“Testing devices as much as possible is definitely important for developers,” says Jonathan Ginn, Developer Evangelist at the Open Data Lab, “If the apps operate well on the iPhone or iPad, it doesn’t mean that it can operate well on other platforms. For example, if a customer regularly uses other platforms, they may face some technical problems and this can result in them giving the app a negative rating .”
The idea of the Open Data Lab originated with the difficulties the university had in maintaining its technological edge. Mr Ginn points out that with the thousands of unique devices and countless platforms that exist in the world, many companies or individuals simply cannot afford to purchase multiple devices. “With the Open Data Lab we have created a central place where everyone can experience them for free.”
The idea of the Open Data Lab originated with the difficulties the university had in maintaining its technological edge. Mr Ginn points out that with the thousands of unique devices and countless platforms that exist in the world, many companies or individuals simply cannot afford to purchase multiple devices. “With the Open Data Lab we have created a central place where everyone can experience them for free.”
Open Data lab, founded in 2013, is the largest in the world according to Tech City UK. It holds more than 400 devices from smartphones, tablets and wearable gadgets to game consoles. These can be accessed by students, freelancers, in-house teams and technical companies, helping to reinforce Bournemouth’s ‘Digital Hub’ credentials. But the Open Device Lab is not alone, with an estimated 450 creative agencies operating in Bournemouth alone and over 100 technology events taking place each year.
