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.
Don't Hide It campaign hopes to counter abuse 16 May 2007
Site allows kids to express their views on current and future policy 26 Mar 2007
Department for Transport guide offers tips on how to cut the number of people commuting to work by car by up to 15 per cent 12 Oct 2007
New research suggests the rebound effect means energy efficiency savings are not as great as first thought, but how do you stop it happening? 01 Nov 2007
Survey finds UK motorists rank colour as more important when deciding which car to buy than environmental factors 11 Oct 2007
Releases designed to help firms monitor and reduce their environmental impact 31 May 2007
Drax unveils plans for 400MW co-firing facility that would allow it to burn biomass alongside coal at its giant power plant 22 May 2008
As San Francisco enacts the US's first carbon tax, institutional investors call on the Senate to support binding emission cuts of up to 90 per cent by 2050 22 May 2008
House of Representatives votes in favour of extending renewables tax credits, but fears remain that incentives will be allowed to lapse 22 May 2008
More news
Fresh from the acquisition of lighting specialist LPBV, Lighting Science boss Govi Rao explains how the expanded company plans to combat the supply constraints dogging the LED market 22 May 2008
With industrial plants wasting a huge chunk of the energy they generate through heat, scientists are exploring some wild and wacky ways of harnessing that lost power 21 May 2008
Firms may have woken up to the need to tackle global warming, but when it comes to adapting to its impacts too many remain fast asleep to both the risks and opportunities 20 May 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
