Tom Worthington
Visiting Fellow, Australian National University
For the 4th Annual Web Content Management for Government, Hyatt Hotel Canberra
17 September 2007
Several new wireless technologies are being introduced to regional areas of Australia. With a few small changes to their web sites, government agencies can optimise their service delivery over these new delivery chains. Smart phones are now readily available in agencies and companies, but are being used for little more than reading email. These can be effective tools to address rapidly emerging situations, such as influenza pandemic. Australian governments are addressing a critical issues in remote indigenous communities. Provision of government services, information and education via the web can supplement and support other delivery mechanisms.
Long-term goal
- Services by the web to all Australia
- Delivery:
- city and country
- to desktops and mobile devices
- by dial-up, broadband and wireless
- Services to remote indigenous communities online
- Using the web to reduce regional carbon emissions
The Present Situation
- Government web sites optimized for desktop computers
- Information, not service delivery
- Written from the point of view of a public servant in the
- No provision for emergency use
Development up to present
- Vertical “stove-pipe” agency web sites
- Large PDF documents
- Limited use of accessibility
- Limited use of web in agencies
Potential Alternatives
- Build separate web sites for mobile, rural, remote and culturally separate groups
- Use accessibility features of the browser for an integrated design
- Educate public service to use the web as a tool, not just a publishing medium
Recommendation
- Start with the accessible, mobile/desktop one for approach
- Use web as an internal tool
- AGIMO provide advice to agencies on web design
- NAA provide e-document advice
Optimising web sites for new wireless regional networks
- Wireless networks will have less bandwidth
- Use Web Accessibility features for low bandwidth option
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
- Use inbuilt CSS Features
- Follow AGIMO Guidelines
Smart phones for managing pandemics
- Web based emergency software can be used in the field with smart phones
- Sahana:
- Free Open Source Software
- Works with smart phones
- Openmoko: Open source Linux phones
- Suitable for use in an Influenza Pandemic
Services for remote indigenous communities online
- Provide web based services for low bandwidth links
- Consider those where English is not their first language
- Provide for resources for health and other professionals
- Provide tools for the community to deliver online services
- Consider Online training delivery
Using the web to reduce regional carbon emissions
- ICT causes 1.52% of national carbon emissions: ACS
- Replace desktop applications with web ones
- Replace PCs with thin web clients
- Replace travel to meetings with web based social networking.