Wouldn’t a consistent user interface and structure across all local authority web sites be a good idea?
It seems a little ridiculous that 467 local authority web departments are all struggling to resolve many of the same issues. And unfortunately so many of these sites are hard to use and have substantial usability problems. Couldn’t resources be better spent by resolving the issues at a Governmental level instead of repeating the difficult process of developing accessible easy to use web sites over and over again?
The latest eGovernment research by Tickertape into web user behaviour, found that web users were spending most of their time on only a few web sites. This ‘Supersite’ phenomenon has led to the development of DirectGov.gov.uk and which may well suggest that they are heading towards a standardisation for all eGovernment web sites.
If this is the case, isn’t the best solution to actually host all local authority web sites and make them part of one ‘Supersite’ using one content management system. Whilst individual authorities would have control over logos, colours and the content, the interface design and navigation mechanisms would be safely controlled elsewhere.
Finding a solution to usability issues such as ensuring maximum accessibility for all users, could be achieved so much more easily this way.