vnunet.com analysis: Britons reveal web wish list

UK surfers identify the services they most want from the internet

Reporting crime and bad drivers, having job interviews, calculating carbon emissions and truancy alerts for parents are just some of the services that Britons want from the internet, according to research released today.

A national study commissioned by public services site Directgov questioned over 2,000 parents, teenagers, over 50s, motorists and disabled people to identify the services which they believe are missing from the internet. 

When asked to name the one online service they most want from the internet in the future the top answers were:

• 'No show' truancy alert if a child does not arrive at school (Parents)
• Taking a virtual tour of colleges or universities (14-18 year-olds)
• Guides to local services for older people (over 50s)
• Online car tax renewal (Motorists)
• Personalised journey planners mapped by accessibility (Disabled people)

"Two-thirds of our sample said that the internet is invaluable in helping them to manage their lives, and this project helps us to understand what information people want from online services," said Directgov chief executive Jayne Nickalls.

"Although each group has different needs and priorities, some themes did emerge: staying connected with friends and family; saving time and hassle by web-based contact with public services; and tools that enhance life experiences. "

What parents want from the internet - top five responses:

• Immediate alert if child has not turned up at school
• Access to child's school disciplinary record
• A say in the running of a child's school (e.g. online PTA meetings)
• Tracking of child's journey to or from school
• Webcams in child's classroom

Parents revealed that they want to get more involved with their children's education. A quarter want to receive immediate online alerts if their child has not turned up for registration.

Parents also revealed that they want to use online technology to support their child's learning, such as being able to playback school lessons to help with homework.

Almost one in 10 parents want a bigger say in how their child's school is run, such as taking part in online PTA meetings. One in 12 want to view the school's disciplinary record on the web.

Tracking children's movements outside school as a safety measure emerged as a key theme. Some even suggested that children should be fitted with a transmitter monitored by their parents.

What teenagers want from the internet - top five responses:

• Virtual tour of colleges and universities
• Virtual driving lessons
• Opportunity to earn money using skills online
• Job interviews
• School lessons and/or tutorials

Young people may have a reputation for gaming and chatting online, but the study revealed that 14-18 year-olds want to be able to use the internet as a self-improvement tool.

When asked what service they most want from the internet in the future, almost a fifth said virtual tours of colleges and universities. The same percentage said virtual driving lessons.

One in eight want to be able to ditch the traditional Saturday job to earn money online using their skills, and one in 10, rising to one in six boys, most want to learn trade skills such as mechanics or plumbing to help gain qualifications.

What over 50s want from the internet - top five responses:

• Information about local services aimed at older people
• Webcams/video conferencing to stay in touch with friends and relatives
• Tracking of pensions
• Planning for new life after retirement
• Ability to use online services regardless of physical situation or impairment

One in five over 50s most desire a guide to local services for their age group, including transport, leisure, learning and health, while one in six most want to stay in better touch with friends and family via webcams and video conferencing.

Planning for retirement, tracking pensions and making money online also featured highly in the poll.

Only 48 per cent of over 50s feel that the internet has made their life better compared with the national average of 68 per cent, suggesting that this generation may be failing to take advantage of the web.

What motorists want from the internet - top five responses:

• Car tax renewal
• Ability to calculate carbon emissions and receive personalised environmental advice
• Ability to check car history
• Online insurance quotes following an accident
• Reporting of a bad driver

The top priority for motorists are services which save time and make them a more responsible driver.

Over one in five most want to be able to renew their car tax online, one in 10 want to put their car through a virtual MOT and the same number want to renew their driving licence online.

One in eight want to access their car's history, and one in 10 want to be able to get insurance quotes for an accident online.

Growing environmental consciousness meant that one in seven drivers most want to be able to calculate the exact carbon emissions of their car, and the youngest motorists seem keenest to report a bad driver (15 per cent of 18-24 year olds).

What disabled people want from the internet - top five responses:

• Create a complete journey planner mapped by accessibility
• Have face-to-face check ups
• Meet people from local disability and other support groups
• Have face-to-face meetings (e.g. job interviews or benefit claim meetings)
• Ask questions and receive verbal information from a digital 'person'

For disabled people the most desired future services are those which could allow them more time and freedom.

One in 10, and one in five disabled drivers, most want the ability to plan journeys with accessibility mapped out according to their requirements. Over one in 10 want check-ups online by 'virtual medics'.

A further one in 10, and one in five disabled parents, want to meet more people with their condition online, and one in seven disabled 35-44 year-olds most want to be able to have online face-to-face meetings such as job interviews or benefit claim renewals.

Spencer Kelly, of the BBC's technology programme Click, said: "Internet technology is developing all the time, and every group in society will benefit as its capabilities grow. 

"Although some of the responses from the study may seem a little far-fetched, there is no reason why you would not be able to have a job interview or a health check-up online in future.

"After all, 10 years ago who would have thought that you would be able to do any of the things we now take for granted at the click of a button?"

Unsurprisingly the responses about the best services currently available online also differed greatly across the groups.

Access to local health services and getting information about schools are most valuable for UK parents, while teenagers rely on services where they can communicate with friends such as social networking sites and instant messaging.

Staying connected was also most valued by the older generation, who rely on the web to keep in touch with friends and family as well as to book travel or research hobbies.

Disabled people most value being able to find Blue Badge parking spaces before leaving the house, and motorists find route planning the most useful service.